House Reps Direct Nigeria CPN: Pursue Private Funding Directive

• The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has urged the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) to seek private partnerships and reduce reliance on government funding.
• This directive, part of a House Reps CPN oversight visit, stems from concerns that limited funding could hinder CPN's regulatory responsibilities in the Nigeria ICT sector.
• CPN Registrar Adebayo Adegbiji confirmed that the council's funding was restored in the 2026 Appropriation Act after a period of financial difficulty, improving its operational capacity.
• The committee has mandated CPN to submit detailed records of its CPN internally generated revenue, insurance coverage, and major expenditures for scrutiny.
• CPN's mandate includes regulating computer professionals' training and practice, setting standards, and combating quackery, with new occupational standards recently approved.

The committee emphasized that a sustainable funding strategy is crucial for the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria to effectively fulfill its extensive mandate, particularly in light of its critical role in regulating the nation's burgeoning ICT sector.

The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has issued a directive urging the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) to actively pursue collaborations with private sector entities and public institutions. This strategic shift aims to bolster the council's operational capabilities and diminish its reliance on government appropriations. The call came during an oversight visit by the committee to the CPN headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, highlighting a significant focus on the financial sustainability of key regulatory bodies.

Fuad Laguda, who chairs the committee, expressed considerable apprehension regarding the potential for insufficient funding to impede CPN's capacity to execute its essential regulatory responsibilities effectively. He specifically advised Adebayo Adegbiji CPN, the Registrar and Chief Executive, to diligently explore and secure legitimate alternative revenue streams to support the council's diverse activities. Laguda underscored the necessity of this approach, stating that exclusive dependence on government funding would prove inadequate for the council's expansive mandate.

While acknowledging the efforts made by Adegbiji, who assumed his role in December 2025, to elevate CPN's public profile, champion global information technology standards, and combat professional misconduct within Nigeria's burgeoning ICT sector, the committee chairman stressed the critical need for a robust and sustainable funding framework. Such a framework, he noted, is indispensable for the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria to align its financial resources with the scale and complexity of its regulatory duties.

During the oversight engagement, Adebayo Adegbiji CPN provided the committee with insights into the council's financial trajectory, revealing that a prior government policy had excluded regulatory councils from the list of agencies eligible for direct government funding. This policy had placed the CPN in a precarious financial position, challenging its ability to operate optimally and fulfill its statutory obligations.

However, Adegbiji confirmed that the council's funding was subsequently reinstated through the 2026 Appropriation Act, enacted under the administration of President Bola Tinubu. This restoration, he explained, has significantly enhanced CPN's operational capacity, enabling it to more effectively carry out its statutory functions and deepen its engagement with various government institutions. The Registrar noted a marked improvement in the council's 'feasibility index' and an increase in its interactions with governmental bodies.

Further demonstrating its expanded reach, CPN has forged partnerships with several key institutions on technology-related initiatives. These collaborators include the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the National Board for Technical Education, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the National Information Technology Development Agency. These engagements have broadened CPN's involvement in the technological components of public-sector operations, reinforcing its central role in Nigeria ICT sector regulation.

The core mandate of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria encompasses the regulation of training and practice for computer professionals across the nation. This includes establishing professional standards and ensuring that practitioners meet the necessary criteria for registration and ethical professional conduct. Adegbiji's leadership has been instrumental in these areas, particularly in promoting global IT standards and actively working to curb quackery within the sector since his appointment.

In a move to further enhance national capabilities, Adegbiji also acknowledged the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, for approving the development of ten additional National Occupational Standards specifically for information and communications technology. These new standards, integrated under the National Skills Qualification Framework, are designed to broaden the spectrum of ICT skills available to Nigerians, aligning with the national skills qualification initiative.

Maintaining its commitment to robust governance, the House Reps CPN oversight committee issued a directive requiring CPN to submit comprehensive records of its CPN internally generated revenue, insurance coverage, and other significant expenditures to its secretariat for thorough review. Chairman Laguda assured the council of the committee's ongoing vigilance, pledging continuous monitoring of its activities through regular oversight visits and offering support for initiatives aimed at improving its overall performance. The committee emphasized that a sustainable funding strategy is crucial for the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria to effectively fulfill its extensive mandate, particularly in light of its critical role in regulating the nation's burgeoning ICT sector.

Lawyers advising ICT professionals or companies in Nigeria should monitor the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria's (CPN) funding strategy, as its financial stability directly impacts its capacity to enforce regulatory standards, develop new ICT qualifications, and combat quackery in the sector. Changes in CPN's funding model, particularly increased reliance on private partnerships, could lead to shifts in regulatory enforcement, compliance requirements, or fee structures for practitioners and businesses.

Source: Original reporting via news reports