The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, has called for a sweeping transformation of Nigeria’s public service from traditional bureaucratic systems to a digitally driven model capable of delivering faster and more efficient services.
He made this call during the official launch of the Civil Service Technology Empowerment for Capacity and High Performance Programme in Cross River State, a coastal state in southern Nigeria. The initiative, known as CIVTECH, is designed to train 2,000 civil servants in essential digital skills to improve service delivery within the state government.
The programme was hosted by the Cross River State Government and organised by the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency. The National Information Technology Development Agency, a federal government institution responsible for implementing Nigeria’s information technology policies and digital economy strategies, partnered with the state to support the initiative.
Inuwa was represented at the event by Dr Aristotle Onumo, Director of the Stakeholders Management and Partnership Department at the agency.
Speaking on the theme “From Bureaucracy to Digital Excellence: Leveraging Technology for a High-Performing Public Service,” he stressed that governance in the modern era must adapt to rapid technological change.
“For decades, the public service has been the engine room of national development but in an era defined by speed, data, and innovation, traditional bureaucratic processes are no longer sufficient to meet the expectations of citizens and businesses,” he said.
He noted that citizens now expect government services to match the speed and convenience of digital banking platforms, electronic commerce services, and mobile applications.
Okay News reports that Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology sector contributed nearly 20 percent to the country’s real Gross Domestic Product in 2024, reflecting the increasing importance of technology in Africa’s largest economy.
Inuwa emphasised that digital transformation is no longer limited to technology alone.
“It is an economic agenda, it is a governance agenda, and it is a national competitiveness agenda,” he said.
According to him, outdated administrative systems often lead to slow decision making, inefficiencies, weak transparency, and declining public trust. He explained that embracing digital excellence would allow governments to deliver services more quickly, improve accountability, increase productivity, and raise citizen satisfaction.
“This is the shift from paperwork to performance, from process-driven governance to outcome-driven governance,” he added.
He stressed that infrastructure alone would not deliver reform unless public servants themselves acquire new capabilities.
“Technology alone does not transform institutions. People do, and digital excellence requires public servants who are digitally skilled, innovation-driven, solution-oriented, performance-focused, and citizen-centric,” he said.
He reassured civil servants that digital tools are meant to support rather than replace them.
“Technology frees you from repetitive administrative tasks so you can focus on strategic thinking, policy innovation, and national development,” he stated.
The Director General outlined ongoing national efforts to expand digital literacy, strengthen digital public infrastructure, automate government processes, enhance cybersecurity and data protection, and promote the responsible adoption of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.
He praised Cross River State for positioning itself as a leader in sub-national digital reform in Nigeria and said initiatives like CIVTECH align with the federal government of Nigeria’s broader vision of building an efficient, transparent, and citizen-focused public service.
“The future of governance is digital. Together, we can transform governance. Together, we can transform Nigeria. And together, we can build a public service worthy of the digital age,” he concluded.
Declaring the programme open, the Head of Service of Cross River State, Mr Orok Okon, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of its workforce. He said rapid technological change requires public institutions to equip their personnel with the necessary digital competencies.
He explained that investing in human capital would not only improve internal administrative processes but also ensure that citizens receive timely, transparent, and high-quality services across sectors.
Earlier, the Director General of the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency, Mr Great Ogban, thanked the Governor of Cross River State and the Head of Service for their continued support for technology-driven workforce development.
He urged participants selected for the training to remain fully committed, noting that their involvement aligns with the state’s ambition to build a paperless civil service.
Ogban expressed confidence that the partnership between the state government and the National Information Technology Development Agency would accelerate Cross River State’s digital transformation and enhance the quality of public service delivery.
