CPN streamlines IT charges

By Emeka Aginam

ABUJA – The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigerian, CPN, yesterday, in Abuja, formally presented the scale of professional charges for IT services to the Information Technology professionals at the ongoing IT Professional Assembly/Annual General Meeting.

The Director of Legal Services CPN, Mr. Abbas Fufore, while speaking on shape of things to come in the IT industry, said that the scale of professional charges as contained in the registration, regulation and control committee of CPN was a framework stipulating fees payable to IT practitioners for services rendered and work done. The blueprint, according to him was not only for the financial interest of IT practitioners but also for clients and interest groups.

He said: “What we are saying here is that there has to be standard in the IT practice. Those who are not fully registered will not be allowed to engage in any IT services or projects. Gone are days when quacks will be allowed to executive IT services in the country.”

The framework, he said, presents proposed standards scale of professional charges for IT services offered by IT professionals in consulting practice either as project consultants or technical participants.

Fufore said: “It is proposed for industry-wide implementation for IT services rendered by registered IT professionals in all IT projects. Council would monitor and ensure that high quality IT professional services are rendered. For now, there are no stipulated sanctions or penalties for non-compliance with the scale of professional fees. Council is desirous of encouraging compliance. In the near future, sanctions may be introduced.

“The scale of professional charges stipulates the minimum scale of fees for all categories of practitioners. The minimum scale rates would be regularly reviewed.

“Practitioners are expected to charge not less than the fixed amount. Upward adaptation of the rates should be discussed.”

and agreed between practitioners and clients. Charging below minimum rates would not be acceptable and when discovered, will attract sanctions.

On the ongoing CPN annual general meeting, he said the assembly would take a look on how Nigerian present democratic experience can benefit from the deployment of Information Technology.

“Less explored areas such as agenda setting, dialogue, alternative sources of information, consensus building, openness and transparency, will be looked at because they are germane to the realization of people’s aspiration and yearnings in a democracy”