The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has submitted a formal summary to the federal cabinet, requesting a reversal of the earlier decision to dissolve the National Information Technology Board (NITB), according to official sources. The move signals a shift in the ministry’s position following nearly a year of inaction since the original dissolution order. The federal cabinet had approved the devaluation and dissolution of NITB in August 2024 as part of an institutional restructuring plan. However, the Ministry of IT has not implemented the decision, and recent developments indicate a renewed push to preserve NITB’s status as an operational body within the national digital ecosystem.
According to sources, after conducting extensive consultations with the Ministry of Law and other relevant stakeholders, the Ministry of IT has reached the conclusion that dissolving NITB would pose significant challenges to the implementation of current projects. One of the key arguments in favor of retaining NITB is its pivotal role in executing the e-Office initiative, which is part of the government’s broader strategy to digitize internal processes across federal institutions. Officials within the Ministry of IT believe that removing NITB at this stage would disrupt digital governance momentum and delay public service modernization goals.
The summary submitted to the federal cabinet outlines these concerns and recommends retaining NITB as a separate entity, capable of delivering on its ongoing mandates. It also references certain international agreements that require NITB to function independently to ensure compliance with project guidelines and deliverables. These agreements have further strengthened the case for retaining the organization, as dismantling it could result in non-compliance or loss of critical partnerships.
Sources added that the Ministry of IT is making efforts to have the new summary placed on the agenda of the upcoming federal cabinet meeting, where it will be considered for approval. The ministry is actively advocating for institutional continuity, particularly in light of the digital transformation goals laid out in national IT strategies. NITB has long served as a technical facilitator for various government digitization efforts, providing IT support and coordination between departments and public sector organizations.
Despite the previous cabinet decision, the lack of implementation over the past ten months appears to have created space for reevaluation. The Ministry of IT’s renewed push suggests an acknowledgment of the board’s operational necessity in the current digital landscape. If the reversal is approved, NITB is expected to continue its role in delivering government digital infrastructure and expanding technology-driven public services.
