Jeffrey Adaralegbe, Nigeria.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR has re-emphasised on the move that Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) having been given the opportunity to ensure adequate budgetary allocation in the 2024 budget, will have no excuse not to up their game on digitalisation come 2024.

(L-R) the HoSF, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR (10th), flanked by the Honorable Minister, Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani (9th), Permanent Secretary, SDO, Engr. Farouk (11th) and other Permanent secretaries at the end of a one day Retreat of the HoSF and the Federal Permanent Secretaries on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 in Abuja.

She said this will enable meeting up with the deadline of 2025 as stipulated in the Federal Civil Service and Strategy and Implementation Plan, 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25).

This was disclosed by her during a one-day Retreat on Digitalisation for the Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, in Abuja. Situating the theme “Towards the Digitalisation of the Public Service by 2025,” in a right context, the HoSF stressed that all the FCSSIP25 pillars are anchored on digitalisation, insisting that for the Service to run with these pillars, it must digitalise its work processes.

Cross section of participants at the just concluded one day Retreat of the HoSF and the Federal Permanent Secretaries on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 in Abuja.

Civil Service Boss urged MDAs to leverage on technology to drive the national goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

Expressed dissatisfaction that Nigeria is behind in terms of digitalisation, as 90% of governments in the world have since gone digital and are presently deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions.

Re-emphasising on 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 tasked MDAs to ensure uniformity and interoperability of data in order to achieve common set goals.In welcoming invited guests and participants, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, OHCSF, Engr. Farouk Yusuf Yabo buttressed his boss point by saying that the HoSF ready to ensure that the Service works digitally, adding that OHCSF is carrying everyone along, in order to achieve that.

The Aig-Imoukhoude, reiterated His Foundation’s commitment in ensuring that the Service works for the good of its citizens, while the Director-General, NITDA, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa revealed that digitalisation is the only solution that will bring the MDAs together.

Kashifu being optimistic about the successful achievement of its implementation in 2025.

Engr. Yabo, in his presentation disclosed that the journey to digitalisation has already begun, speaking on the vision, strategies and what “the OHCSF has done so far in this regard”. He also stated the importance of digitalisation, which include cost management, sovereignty, globalisation, data security, transparency, interoperability, amongst others.

On the part of Director, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mr Adeniyi Dada and the Director, Galaxy Backbone (GBB), who took the audience through the “Government e-mail Initiative. He disclosed that the Office is set to meet the 2025 target.

Dada 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.

During the Question, Comment and Answer Session, Permanent Secretaries suggested the following; cyber security training; standardisation of internet and for GBB to up their game in the provision of quality internet to Civil Servants; budget allocation for monitoring of MDAs; making ICT independent; inter-Ministerial recruitment to shore up capacity gap.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Olusade Adesola urged MDAs to fast-track the implementation of their digitalisation processes by engaging with the OHCSF for guidance.In response, MDAs were requested to be more proactive in streamlining issues that need GBB’s attention, as well as ensure that they make adequate provisions in their budget as digitalisation is dear to the heart of Mr. President.

A Panel Discussion moderated by the Permanent Secretary, SDO-OHCSF featured both public and private partners including the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Coordinator, Cyber Security, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), M.D./CEO, GBB, Chief Executive Officer, Secured Records Management Solutions, President, Compliance Institute, Nigeria and CEO, Crown Initiative Ltd.

However, the Discussants, unanimously, agreed that the Federal Civil Service is ready for digitalisation. Reasons adduced are that the Service produces the best brains that people poach to do the same work, their effective use of mobile phones, usage of banking platforms, also, being that they are already working in silos.

They, harped on more capacity, unification of data, adequate budgetary resources, training and retraining, as well as standardisation and uniformity of software.

The Honourable Minister of Communication, Digital Economy and Innovation, Dr. Bosun Tijani said that technology, having made things a lot easier, will enhance service delivery, greatly. He stated that the Eight (8) Presidential Priorities will not be realisable without technology.

The Minister disclosed that the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is the system and capacity needed to deliver services to the public, also it enables broad socio-economic activities in a social age.

Dr. Tijani further stated that the Nigerian populace is critical for achieving the e-government master plan, which seeks to support the Nigerian Digital Service Strategy.

In her Closing Remarks, the HoSF appreciated the Honourable Minister for his articulated remarks and the Transformative Permanent Secretaries for the massive turnout, as well as active participation. She expressed optimism that the Service is ready to move so as not to be left behind by its peers, globally.

Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, also said that there will be a report from all MDAs on how far they have gone on digitalisation, re-emphasising that there should be no excuse for lagging behind.

Though the journey is a peculiar one, the Service is ready to move ahead, she assured.