" ITREALMS: Pantami warns sycophants to stay off NITDA: ‘I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody'

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Pantami warns sycophants to stay off NITDA: ‘I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody'

The newly appointed Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has warned sycophants to stay off the agency and precisely his office as he belongs to everybody as much as he belongs to nobody, insisting that he came to serve his fatherland, Nigeria with success as his priority, reports ITRealms.

Declaring his averse to sycophancy, Dr. Pantami declared during his inaugural meeting with members of staff of NITDA on Tuesday in Abuja that “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” in a similar fashion like Mr. President, Mohammadu Buhari during his May 29, 2015 inaugural speech.

He also told those who care to listen “Don’t approach me with gossip. Don’t come to me with malicious, ill-natured reports about other people. But I welcome any suggestion or information you have that will help grow this agency we all love and work for. Remember, too, that you are welcome to call my attention to where you think I am going astray. 

Although I have a PhD in Computer Information Systems, I don’t know it all; nobody does. I came here to serve Nigeria, and success is my priority.”

Pantami also outlined three qualities, he said would make people successful, especially working with him, namely “integrity, expertise and professionalism; and commitment to your duty.“

He pointed that his nature is allergic to corruption both in practices and favouritism, warning that he will not tolerate these twin vices.

“So let us join hands and say ‘No to corrupt practices and favouritism’” he said.

The new DG also said that in order to encourage productivity and motivate honest, ethical, hardworking members of staff, he plans to put staff welfare to the front burner, and introduce special awards for best performing staff.

For him, contractors with NITDA should not loss sleep as long as projects are good and within the confines of due process.

“I am glad to continue with all the good projects of the agency as long as they meet irreducible minimums in due process, and conform to the law that established the agency. Where projects violate due process or impose needless burdens on the core mission of the agency, they will be reviewed in the interest of the nation,” Dr. Pantami assured.

Emphasising that his doors are open to all staff members, including messengers and cleaners and urged them to come forward with suggestions, ideas and observations, although official communications, he said, should follow “official routine channels.”


He further commended the acting DG, Dr. Vincent Olatunji for holding forth and for the handover note made available to him last week Friday.

Remmy Nweke with additional report from Doris Minimah/ED,Ops
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Pix: Dr. Pantami, new DG, NITDA

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