FG Pushes Digital Cooperation to Improve Public Services

 

By Atlantic Reports

The Federal Government has called for stronger digital public infrastructure and closer cooperation among agencies to make public services more accessible, reduce repeated documentation and support financial inclusion.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, made the call at the fourth Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards in Abuja on Tuesday night.

Represented by Dr Ibrahim Kana, Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s Office, Akume said digital reforms should improve how government institutions serve the public.

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) organised the conference with the Office of the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion. Its theme focused on scaling digital public infrastructure for effective governance and service delivery.

Connecting Government Systems

Akume said Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure Framework, launched in March 2025, rested on three elements: digital identity, digital payments and secure data exchange.

He said the government intended to strengthen information sharing among ministries, departments and agencies so citizens would not repeatedly submit the same documentation to access services.

However, he identified data protection, the ability of different systems to work together, and the integration of state and local governments into national identity and payment systems as continuing challenges.

Akume urged stakeholders to treat digital public infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, alongside roads, electricity and telecommunications.

For citizens, the proposed cooperation could simplify transactions across government offices. Its effectiveness will depend on whether agencies can exchange accurate information securely and provide accessible services.

Reforming Processes Before Automating Them

BPSR Director-General Dr Dasuki Arabi said digital transformation should address administrative bottlenecks and improve citizens’ experiences, rather than simply introduce technology into offices.

He announced three applications: the BPSR Reform Tracker, Repository Tool and National Strategy for Public Service Reforms Application.

According to Arabi, the platforms were designed to coordinate reforms, monitor implementation, provide real-time reporting and support evidence-based decisions.

He called for collaboration with businesses, researchers and technology companies to develop practical responses to public service problems.

A similar message came from National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure Executive Vice-Chairman Khalil Halilu, represented by Dr Kehinde Ajakaiye.

Halilu said institutions should redesign inefficient administrative processes before automating them. He also called for investment in local innovation and civil servants’ digital skills.

He said NASENI had adopted an integrated enterprise resource planning system and developed applications intended to improve administrative efficiency, transparency and accountability.

Digital Identity and Data Protection

European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said digital government was important to building trust between citizens and public institutions.

He said the EU-Nigeria Digital Economy Package, valued at more than €820 million, supported cooperation in connectivity, technical skills, digital public services and cybersecurity. The figure describes the package’s stated value, rather than expenditure reported at the conference.

Mignot said the EU was working with Estonia, Finland and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to establish a data exchange layer for secure information sharing among government agencies.

NIMC Director-General Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, represented by Chief Information Security Officer Adaora Casmir, said trusted digital identity was essential to effective digital governance.

She said the National Identification Number supported verification across banking, telecommunications, healthcare, education and social protection services.

Coker-Odusote stressed that personal and biometric information must be protected through cybersecurity safeguards, access controls and responsible data management.

The conference account did not provide a timetable for the proposed data exchange layer or figures showing how the newly announced applications had changed service delivery.

The practical test will be whether these systems reduce delays and repeated paperwork, protect citizens’ information and enable more people to obtain public services.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.