NCC, BPSR sign agreement to digitise government processes

Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and Dasuki Arabi, the director-general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly work towards accelerating the digitisation reform process in government.

According to the commission, the MoU will enhance efficiency and productivity, as it adequately captures the roles of enabling policies and implementing institutions, which are key features of digital transformation.

Danbatta, speaking at the event which took place at NCC’s Head Office in Abuja, said collaboration between the two organisations is consistent with NCC’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) to partner and collaborate with relevant stakeholders.

He also said the Commission will continue to drive broadband penetration, which provides the backbone upon which such a process will thrive.

“It is for this reason that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan document, made adequate provisions for the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the country. It is this same infrastructure that will drive services that will result in the transformation of governance as well as the key services sector in the economy,” Danbatta said.

The EVC also noted that the process and governance will be paperless and chief executive officers would be able to deal with their emails without necessarily signing most things offline because virtually everything will be done online.

“Indeed, the transition will be worth it, as the process is associated with efficiency, which naturally results from operating a paperless system of governance or administration at the level of entities such as the Bureau for Public Service Reforms and the Nigerian Communications Commission,” he said.

“We attach a lot of importance to the way and manner we collaborate with sister agencies of government to give translation or to ensure the actualisation of that important item of our Strategic Vision Plan which is strategic collaboration and partnership, it explains why we are signing this Memorandum of Understanding.”

Also, Arabi revealed that the Bureadecidedon to work with the Commission in driving the reforms for the adoption of emerging technologies as a result of NCC’s emergence as the first organisation to win the Platinum Award of BPSR, exceeding expectations in the way it conducts its businesses.

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“Historically speaking, this partnership had begun in 2016 when the Commission became the first agency of government to undergo the BPSR online Self-Assessment Tool (SAT). Remarkably, at the end of the assessment, NCC emerged as the first agency to be rated Platinum Organisation by the Tool, having exceptionally exceeded expectations in all good practices built around nine domain areas,” Arabi said.

The director said the MoU is providing a window of opportunity to consolidate efforts to deliver strong and resilient public service that will lead to a well-functioning federal system where zero tolerance for corruption is made practicable.

“The MoU will also help in fostering a high degree of cooperation between Federal and State governments in improving service delivery and addressing the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index to significantly improve the safe and secured environment that encourages economic growth and investment,” he said.

He explained that efforts to improve equitable and unhindered access to government information and services through the federal government’s Scorecard for ranking websites of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are producing a direct impact on the socioeconomic development of the country.