Federal Government Embraces Digital First Governance Initiative
The Federal Government, alongside the National Assembly and Judiciary, has formalized a resolution aimed at implementing ‘digital first governance’ across all public institutions. This initiative is focused on minimizing time, cost, and complexity for Nigerians accessing digital services.
Key Outcomes from the National Government Policy Roundtable
This significant resolution was outlined in a communiqué co-signed by the Chief of Staff, Deputy Speaker Sam Hart, and Fortune Toma, Director of Africa at Govtech Africa. It emerged from the first National Government Policy Roundtable recently held at the National Library and Archives Center in Abuja.
Roundtable Unites Stakeholders for Collaborative Governance
The roundtable, themed “Digital First Governance: Rethinking Service, Engagement and Performance in the Nigerian Government,” was co-sponsored by Govtech Africa Inc., the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Library of Congress Trust Fund. It successfully brought together a diverse array of participants, including representatives from subnational governments, the private sector, international development partners, and key branches of government, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the event.
Addressing Institutional and Cultural Barriers
Discussions centered on the realization that Nigeria’s major obstacles to digital governance have shifted from technical to institutional and cultural challenges. The report emphasized the persistent gaps between policy intentions and practical execution, such as the duplicative nature of siloed systems, limited interoperability among government agencies, and inadequate enforcement mechanisms that linger beyond individual administrations.
Recommendations for a Digital-First Republic
The roundtable functioned as a platform to pose crucial questions, challenge prevailing assumptions, and collaboratively develop actionable strategies for realizing a digital-first republic. The new directive underscores that success for government platforms must include accessibility for individuals with disabilities, improved connectivity, and enhanced digital literacy.
Urgency for Legislative Action on Digital Economy Bill
Furthermore, participants declared the National Digital Economy and E-Government Bill a “national legislative emergency,” urging the National Assembly to expedite its passage and imploring the President to provide prompt assent.
Government Reforms and Citizen Engagement Initiatives
Additional resolutions established during the meeting emphasized the immediate transition of all federal and state authorities to eliminate commercial email services like Google and Microsoft from Galaxy Backbone’s GovMail. The communiqué indicated that Congress, including the Office of the Vice Speaker, would lead this transition. There was also a call for public digital investments to prioritize Nigerian-built solutions that adhere to security and interoperability standards.
Establishment of a Digital Governance Council
The communiqué further proposed the activation of the Nigeria Data Exchange (NGDX), mandating citizens to provide data to the government only once. It stated that each of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches must publish time-bound plans for modernizing their operations. The National Assembly intends to institutionalize the NASS Eye platform, enabling citizens to monitor legislative processes and executive compliance in real-time. A new ICT procurement framework with trained IT personnel is set to replace current systems that treat technology merely as a physical commodity.
Call for Continuous Evaluation of Digital Governance
Lastly, the communiqué emphasized the necessity of a permanent, multi-stakeholder Digital Governance Council to harmonize policies and track implementation. Progress is intended to be assessed at the 2027 National Governance Policy Roundtable. The roundtable concluded by stressing that success should not be measured solely by published policies or applications but by the lived experiences of Nigerians concerning government responsiveness, accessibility, reliability, and fairness.
