The Federal Government has directed all 36 States to establish a ministry of the digital economy.
After the first meeting of the Presidential Council on Digital Economy and E-government on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, spoke to the media and made this statement.
To ensure a smooth implementation of the National Digital Economy Plan (NDEP), Pantami said that the federal government gave states instructions to create a Ministry of Digital Economy in each state.
He recalled launching the National Digital Economy and Policy Strategy (NDEPS) in November 2019 with eight pillars that required the involvement of actors at all levels.
Pantami speaking on behalf of President Buhari said that the digital economy cannot be implemented in silos, with FG bearing the responsibility, adding that states and sub-nationals have a significant role to play in ensuring the achievement of NDEPS.
“Many important things have been discussed and we have agreed on all of them and it is because of this we plan to have another meeting as soon as possible.
“The secretariat has been directed to come up with frameworks for the digital economy, that can be implemented in our states.
“Many states have good initiatives on the digital economy, however, there is a lack of harmonization in their activities.
“A framework is going to be developed so that our sub-nationals will play their role and FG will continue to provide intervention where necessary,’’ he said.
He further said that since the establishment of the NDEPS, a lot has been achieved, while 70 percent of achievements have been recorded on some of the pillars.
Pantami however, said there are pending issues that require engaging the sub-nationals to look at decision making, implementation, coming up with frameworks, getting their input on regulations, and more.
Part of the issues also discussed at the meeting included the establishment of the Ministry of Digital Economy in states to cascade and implement activities from the national level.
According to him, hopefully, before the end of the year, many positive things will come up from the council.
He said that after the launching of the policy, the ICT sector contributions to the Gross Domestic Product of the country have increased significantly.
“The sector alone without involving digital services, contributed 17.9 percent which is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.
“With the accommodation of our Governors and sub-nationals, I believe many positive things should come out of the sector,’’ he said.
Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), requested that the Chairman set up a sub-committee to look at thematic areas for the implementation of the NDEPS.
Inuwa also requested the ratification of the terms of reference for the council.
Dr. Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, emphasized that the Nigeria e-Government Master Plan implementation will be based on the use of ICTs in public administrations.
According to Adeluyi, it will be combined with organizational change, and new skills to improve public services, and democratic processes and strengthen support for public policies.
Recall that President Buhari inaugurated the Presidential Council on Digital Economy and E-government on Friday, June 10, 2022, while promising that his administration will continue to take advantage of digital technologies to transform every sector of the economy.
The President directed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, to chair the Council on his behalf and give regular updates.
The 27-man committee chaired by Pantami on behalf of the President has the following members: Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Governor of Gombe State; Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State; Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nasarawa State; Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State.
Others are Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment; Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Prof. Umar G. Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Nigerian Communications Commission; Prof. M.B Abubakar, Managing Director/CEO, Galaxy Backbone Limited; Dr. Abimbola Alale, Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited and Engr Aliyu A. Aziz, Director General/CEO, National Identity Management Commission.
Also on the committee are Mr. Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, Senior Special Assistant, (Digital Transformation) to the President; Engr Olufemi Olufeko, Director, e-Government Dept, Federal Ministry Of Communications and Digital Economy; A.B. Okauru, Director General, Nigeria Governors Forum; Prof. Simon Adesina Sodiya, President Nigeria Computer Society and Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Other members are Prof. Kabiru Bala, Representative of Academia and Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira; Prof. Nnenna Oti, Representative of the Academia and Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri and Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Secretary and the Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency.
