From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Government has commenced the implementation of its digital transformation agenda for the Federal Civil Service, with the inauguration of an 11-member Technical Working Committee to develop a comprehensive framework for the initiative.
The committee was inaugurated by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, on Friday, following the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the Federal Civil Service Digital Transformation Progress Report.
The development marks a shift from policy formulation to implementation, as the government seeks to establish a coordinated digital ecosystem across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
Walson-Jack said the initiative was a defining milestone in the reform of the Civil Service, stressing that the digital transformation agenda must produce measurable improvements in government operations and service delivery.
She charged the committee to develop a Digital Transformation Implementation Framework and Roadmap that would provide a clear pathway for the expansion, adoption and sustainability of digitalisation across the Service.
According to her, the framework must cover policy, governance, institutional coordination, interoperability, cybersecurity, financing, digital readiness, capacity development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The Head of Service warned against fragmented digital initiatives across government institutions, calling instead for an integrated system where government platforms can communicate, information can flow securely and administrative processes can be simplified.
“The time has come for the Federal Civil Service to move beyond isolated and fragmented digital initiatives and establish a coherent, Government-wide digital ecosystem,” she said.
Walson-Jack also stressed that technology alone would not guarantee the success of the reform, noting that the people, processes and institutional culture of the Civil Service must evolve alongside digital systems.
She said public servants must be adequately trained and supported to adopt and effectively deploy digital tools in the performance of their duties.
The reform, she added, was aligned with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan and the broader objective of building a professional, world-class and digitally enabled public service capable of supporting national development and delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, described the assignment as strategic and timely.
Gagare assured the Head of Service that members would deploy their expertise and work with relevant government institutions and stakeholders to develop a framework that would be practical, sustainable and responsive to the realities of the Nigerian Civil Service.
The committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Deborah Odoh, while the Director, ICT Service-Wide, Alex Gwaske, serves as Secretary.
Other members include the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Danjuma; Gagare; Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, Danjuma Kalba; Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi; and Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Adebowale Adedokun.
Also on the committee are Joy Baderin, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office; Uwem Ekpo, Director, ICT, OHCSF; Gideon Adogbo, Senior Technical Adviser to the Head of the Civil Service; Uyiosa Ebuehi, Technical Assistant to the Head of Service; and Gwaske.
The ICT Service-Wide Department of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation will serve as the committee’s secretariat.
The committee is expected to submit its first report to the Head of Service within one week. The report will form the basis for the constitution of a Steering Committee, to be chaired by Walson-Jack, to provide strategic oversight for the implementation of the digital transformation agenda.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service said the initiative was aimed at deploying technology as a strategic tool to improve efficiency, strengthen accountability and deliver better outcomes for civil servants and Nigerians.
(The Sun)
