The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together towards accelerating the digitization reform process in the government.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, and the Director-General of the BPSR, Dr. Dasuki Arabi, signed the MoU at a ceremony held at the NCC’s headquarters in Abuja. Danbatta stated that this collaboration aligns with the NCC’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) and aims to improve efficiency and productivity by establishing enabling policies and implementing institutions necessary for digital transformation.
According to a press release signed by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, the Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Danbatta, emphasized the Commission’s commitment to driving broadband penetration.
He stated that broadband infrastructure is crucial for the advancement of various processes. Danbatta pointed out that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan document has made provisions for the deployment of such infrastructure across the country.
This infrastructure will play a vital role in enabling services that will result in the transformation of governance and services in the economy.
Danbatta further explained that once the process is complete, governance will become paperless. CEOs will be able to handle their mails electronically without the need for offline signatures, as most transactions will take place 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 that is strategic collaboration and partnership, it explains why we are signing this Memorandum of Understanding.
In his response, Arabi revealed that the Bureau took the decision 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 organization to win the Platinum Award of BPSR, exceeding expectations in the way it conducts its businesses.
“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” Dasuki stated.
Underscoring his submission, Arabi said, “Given the successful outcomes of the workshops and conferences NCC organized in collaboration with BPSR on the Distributed Ledger Technologies (the Blockchain) in 2022 in Lagos and Abuja, the MoU is providing a window of opportunity to consolidate efforts to deliver strong and resilient public service that will lead a well-functioning federal system wherein zero tolerance for corruption is made practicable.
“The MoU will also help in fostering of a high degree of cooperation between Federal and State governments in improving service delivery and addressing Transparency International Corruption Perception Index to significantly improved safe and secured environment that encourages economic growth and investment.”
Arabi added that there have been rewards for the 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).