FG approves paternity leave, others for NITDA Staff

Federal government has approved paternity and compassionate leave, among others, for the staff of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), according to Dr Isa Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

Pantami stated this at the unveiling and presentation of the NITDA’s Employee-Centric Condition and Scheme of Service in Abuja.

In his address, the minister as the chief convener and host, appreciated the President Muhammadu Buhari, for his approval of both documents for NITDA on February 12, 2021, as well as his general support for the digital economy sector.

Pantami stated that the scheme and conditions of service took almost five years to complete, adding that they presented a holistic approach to the development of the agency on one hand and the employees on the other.

According to him, the documents will enable the agency effectively key into the digital economy mandate of the Federal Government, enhance the corporate culture of the agency, as well as attract and retain highly skilled staff.

“Key areas include the introduction of paternity and compassionate leave, responsibility award, transfer benefits and staff home ownership loan, among others,” he highlighted.

The minister said the scheme of service would serve as a veritable tool for making NITDA more functional, noting that it identified 15 different cadres for the agency and specified the skills and certifications required for appointment and promotion.

He pointed out that the Conditions of Service were to reengineer the operations and structure of the agency with the aim of providing an enabling environment for effective strategy development and execution.

He charged NITDA to use the approval of the scheme and conditions of service as a springboard for greater impact.