Unregistered Information Technology professionals in the country are in for hard times, as he Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), says it has been mandated by the Ministry of Education to clampdown on them.
Prof. Charles Uwadia, President of the council, said that the council had more than 5,000 practicing professionals who were not registered. and advised them to “do the needful before the operation will begin”.
“We have always tried to meet members and persuade them to register.“We are empowered by the Act establishing the council to bring such unregistered professionals to book.
“Anyone not known by CPN is not expected to practice in Nigeria.
“Any organization involved in IT and has employed unprofessional persons is not helping the country.
“The Ministry of Education has now given us the backing to clampdown on unregistered IT professionals in the country; we will start that straight away,” he said.
Uwadia, however, called on companies to always request evidence of registration from professional bodies before employing any IT expert.
Allwell Achumba, Registrar of the council, who also spoke at the briefing, said that the council would continue to strengthen its relationship with NUC and NCCE on accreditation of computer science and engineering courses in tertiary institutions.
He said that the measure would enable the council to determine the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the computing profession.
The council was established through Act No 49 of 1993, which was passed into law on June 10, 1993. It is charged with the regulation, control, and supervision of the computing profession and practice.