The FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, made the statement on Monday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a three-day stakeholders' conference on National e-Government: Strategies and Implementation for Nigeria. E-government is the use of Information, Communication, Technology (ICT) in government business.
El-Rufai stated that he was committed to the implementation of ICT in the FCT because it would engender efficiency and effectiveness in the various operations OF the federal capital.
"It will check sharp and corrupt practices and enhance efficiency, since all government transactions are connected to the Internet and can easily be accessible," he said.
He also said that when completed, it would be able to issue Certificates of Occupancy (c of o), to land allotees promptly.
The Minister recalled that his commitment to ICT was first demonstrated when he was in the BPE.
According to him, before he left the BPE, he made sure that the whole system was computerised, adding that while it was initially difficult for some people to adapt, over time, everybody was integrated into the system.
He disclosed that he has started the same in the FCT, expressing hope that before 2006, the territory would take its rightful place in ICT.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Labaran Maku, pointed out that the wealth of nations were no longer determined by their level of natural resources but by their level of information technology.
"What we need in the country now is to implement ICT in public administration, because it makes it cheaper, transparent and predictable," he said.
Maku, however, observed that ICT implementation did not replace ethical conduct and good values in the civil service, adding that it had to be complemented with good leadership decisions.
"The implementation of ICT in the country also requires steady power supply otherwise the expected benefits will not be realised," he said.
He commended the federal government for its efforts in rehabilitating NEPA, but pointed out that the service delivery of the Authority was still far from satisfactory.
Quelle: AllAfrica, 10.03.2004
