By 
NITDA Pushes Digital Transformation in Nigeria’s Public Service
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for a bold shift in Nigeria’s public service from traditional bureaucracy to digital excellence. He made the call during the official flag-off of the Civil Service Technology Empowerment for Capacity and High Performance (CIVTECH) Programme in Cross River State.
RELATED: ITU and NITDA strengthen collaboration on digital skills and cybersecurity in Nigeria
The programme, hosted by the Cross River State Government and organised by the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRS MEDA), aims to equip 2,000 civil servants with critical digital skills to drive efficient, technology-enabled service delivery.
From Bureaucracy to Digital Excellence
In his keynote address titled “From Bureaucracy to Digital Excellence: Leveraging Technology for a High-Performing Public Service,” Inuwa, represented by NITDA’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Aristotle Onumo, stressed that the future of governance depends on how well public institutions embrace digital transformation.
“For decades, the public service has been the engine room of national development. However, 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 mirror the efficiency and convenience experienced in digital banking, e-commerce and mobile platforms.
Digitalisation as an Economic and Governance Imperative
Highlighting the economic importance of technology, Inuwa disclosed that Nigeria’s ICT sector contributed nearly 20 per cent to the nation’s real GDP in 2024, underscoring its growing role as a driver of economic growth and global competitiveness.
“Digital transformation is no longer just a technology agenda. It is an economic agenda, a governance agenda, and a national competitiveness agenda,” he stated.
According to him, outdated bureaucratic systems lead to delayed decision-making, inefficiencies, reduced transparency and declining public trust, while digital excellence enables faster service delivery, improved accountability, higher productivity and greater citizen satisfaction.
“This is the shift from paperwork to performance, from process-driven governance to outcome-driven governance,” he added.
People at the Centre of Digital Transformation
The NITDA DG emphasised that while infrastructure and systems are critical, people remain central to institutional transformation.
“Technology alone does not transform institutions. People do. Digital excellence requires public servants who are digitally skilled, innovation-driven, solution-oriented, performance-focused and citizen-centric,” he said.
He reassured participants that technology is designed to empower, not replace, public servants, freeing them from repetitive administrative tasks to focus on strategic thinking, policy innovation and national development.
NITDA’s Strategic Priorities
Abdullahi outlined NITDA’s ongoing initiatives, including the promotion of digital literacy and skills development, strengthening digital public infrastructure, automating government processes, enhancing cybersecurity and data protection, and encouraging the adoption of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence across public institutions.
He commended Cross River State for positioning itself at the forefront of sub-national digital transformation, noting that initiatives like CIVTECH align with the Federal Government’s vision of building an efficient, transparent and citizen-centric public service.
“The future of governance is digital. Together, we can transform governance, transform Nigeria, and build a public service worthy of the digital age,” he concluded.
Cross River Reaffirms Commitment to Capacity Building
Declaring the programme open, the state’s Head of Service, Orok Okon, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening workforce capacity. He stressed that, in a rapidly evolving technological era, public institutions must equip personnel with the competencies required to deliver efficient and transparent services.
Earlier, CRS MEDA Director General Great Ogban thanked the state government for its consistent support for technology-driven workforce development. He urged participants to show full commitment, noting that the initiative aligns with the state’s goal of transitioning to a paperless civil service.
He expressed optimism about the growing partnership with NITDA, saying it would accelerate Cross River State’s journey toward a more efficient, digitally driven public service.
