IMPLEMENTING COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT DOMAIN POLICY Presented by Lazarus Ikoti (National Information Technology Development Agency) at the One Day Switchto.ng Workshop Lagos, 14 th September, 2011

INTRODUCTION  NITDA was established by section 1(1) of NITDA Act  Section 6 of the Act makes provisions for functions of the Agency.  Section 6(b) particularly gives NITDA the power to make guidelines for the establishment and maintenance of the appropriate infrastructure for Information Technology.  Section 6(m) Specifically enjoins NITDA to accelerate internet and intranet penetration in Nigeria and promote sound internet governance in Nigeria.

DOMAIN MANAGEMENT  Section 6(m) quoted above mandates NITDA to give effect to the second schedule of the NITDA Act.  Section 1 of the second schedule is very instructive  Subject to the provision to this act, the agency shall advise the federal Government generally on matters that are related to the management and administration of Nigeria's country code Top Level Domain.  NITDA is also enjoined to setup procedure and criteria for second level domains and then the criteria and qualification for domain name registrars and Host. NITDA has a great role to play in the supervision and management of.ng ccTLD.

WHY IS NITDA DEVELOPING A POLICY o Our Responsibility under Section 6 of our Enabling Act, NITDA Act 2007 o The need to provide guidelines to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure for information technology and systems application and development in Nigeria for public and private sectors, urban-rural development, the economy and the government; o To accelerate Internet and Intranet penetration in Nigeria and promote sound Internet Governance by giving effect to the Second Schedule of this Act

COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS  Section 3 of the second schedule gives NITDA the power to ensure that the activities of all organizations engage in the management of the country code Top Level domain complies with best international practices.  S.17. (1) of the NITDA ACT States as follows: Except as otherwise provided in this Act, any person or corporate body who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act commits an offence;  Sbs. (4) Where a person or body corporate fails to comply with the guidelines and standards prescribed by the Agency in the discharge of its duties under this Act, such person or body corporate commits an offence

COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS  18. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, any body corporate or person who commits an offence under this Act where no specific penalty is provided, is liable on conviction:  (a) for a first offence, to a fine of N200,000 or imprisonment for a term of 1 year or to both such fine or imprisonment; and .(b) for a second and subsequent offences, to a.fine of N500,,000 or to Imprisonment for a term of 3 years or to both such fine and Imprisonment.  (2) The institution of proceedings or imposition of a penalty under this Act shall not relieve a body corporate from liability to pay to the Federal Inland Revenue Service such levy or tax which or may become due under this Act.

THANK YOU