The Nigerian eGovernment initiative, refers to deliberate efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver government information and services online via the internet to her citizens in order to ensure that the citizens and businesses are served better and cheaply. In his speech at the signing ceremony, the MD of Nigerian eGovernment Strategies Limited (NeGSt), Otunba Felix Obada, noted that President Obasanjo during the inauguration of NeGSt platform on March 2004, had mandated it to go ahead and implement the Nigerian eGovernment project as a means of improving the way government businesses are carried out, how services are delivered and how avenues are created for the citizens to interact with government.
Obada also stated that the president identified eTaxation, eProcurement, eLearning, eAuthentication, eTourism, eAgriculture, eHealth, among the eGovernment products that could make government more compact, effective and efficient, charging all tiers of government from Federal, State to Local Governments to join in the campaign to implement the eGovernment project.
Explaining the features of the Nigerian eGovernment Initiative, Obada said "One of the unique features of the Nigerian eGovernment initiative is the adoption of the PPP model, with the Federal Government of Nigeria on one hand and the private sector, on the other. Government is represented by NITDA while the private sector consists of a consortium of top rated banks, two strategic partners, technology providers and high-net-worth individual investors.
In the application of this model, the primary concern of government is to ensure public sector reform and the institutionalization of probity, transparency, accountability and the delivery of the dividends of democracy through good governance. The private sector is concerned mainly with eCommerce and bottom line profit.
The motivation for both parties however is the socio-economic gains and general good will that accrue through the partnership for the benefits of the citizens.This model was adopted by the United Nations at its conference in Rome, Italy in April 2004 and has been codified for use by member nations worldwide".
He further noted that "given the Tower of Babel phenomenon that has so far characterized the implementation of various IT projects national wide, NeGSt has elected to adopt an approach that implements a single national portal, eNigeria.com.ng, that will link the services of various ministries, agencies, parastatals and businesses in the country. Having such a single entry point into our national government is advantageous because it will integrate eGovernnient service offerings seamlessly across different agencies. And such a portal will reduce the need to log on to different agency websites to order services or find information. For the first time therefore, Nigerian citizens may engage in one-stop-shopping, and find whatever they need at a single source.
He expressed optimism that by this arrangement, NeGSt will benefit from low financial entry into the eGovernment business while Alliance Partners, will benefit from volume business as they are patronized by all tiers of government and businesses nationwide.
Also fielding questions from newsmen at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of NeGSt, Dr Olu Agunloye, said that the delay in signing the agreement since the inauguration of NeGSt was to allow the platform complete a circle of registrations it had to go through as well as setting up a formidable board of directors.
He revealed that NeGSt found it difficult raising the necessary funds required, due to the current capital base expected from the banks by the CBN.
Agunloye noted that among the gains of the federal government in the agreement, would be the recoup of lost funds in tax evasion, since every information of many corporate establishments, agencies and parastatals would be open for access.
Autor: Prince Osuagwu
Quelle: Vanguard, 12.01.2005
