The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, emphasized that the forthcoming full digitalization of all processes in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by 2025 will inherently reduce the overall cost of governance.
She further emphasized that MDAs, having already received opportunities to secure adequate budgetary allocations in the 2024 budget, will have no grounds for failing to enhance their digital capabilities in 2024. This imperative aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, 2021-2025, which sets the deadline for this transformation.
Dr. Yemi-Esan conveyed this during a one-day Retreat on digitalization for the Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
The statement which was signed by the Director, Press of the OHCSF, Muhammed Ahmed, reads, “Yemi-Esan who spoke on the theme “towards the digitalization of the public service by 2025,” stressed that all the FCSSIP25 pillars are anchored on digitalization, insisting that for the service to run with these pillars, it must digitalize its work processes. She urged MDAs to leverage technology to drive the national goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
“She expressed dissatisfaction that Nigeria is lagging in terms of digitalization, as 90% of governments in the world have since gone digital and are presently deploying Artificial Intelligence solutions.
“Re-emphasising the gains of going digital, such as reduction in cost of governance, waste reduction, as well as the provision of information at the backend with saved data, she urged MDAs to ensure uniformity and interoperability of data to achieve common set goals.”
In their goodwill messages, the representative of the Aig-Imoukhoude Foundation, Chioma Njoku, reiterated the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that the service works for the good of its citizens, while the Director-General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, confirmed that digitalization is the only solution that will bring the entire system together.
He expressed optimism on the achievement of its implementation in 2025.
In another presentation by the Director, of Information and Communication Technology, Adeniyi Dada, who took the audience through the “government e-mail initiative”, revealed that the civil service is set to meet the 2025 target.
“He also affirmed that MDAs are already aware of the government e-mails with the increase in the number of e-mail slots allocated by GBB from 10,000, 40,000 to 100,000 from 2009 to date,” the statement read.
