Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has introduced what it called digital readiness tools, designed to assess and enhance transformation in states.
NGF ‘s Director General, Abdulateef Shittu, who disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, explained that “the tools were developed after consultations with government institutions at federal and state levels, financial institutions, private technology and digital service providers, and citizens to ensure comprehensiveness, representation, and a reflection of the country’s needs”
One of the tools, “Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Index” is a comprehensive tool that evaluates the readiness and maturity of states in adopting a DPI-approach to digital transformation and government administration.
According to Shittu, the index assesses the foundational digital capabilities of each state and provides a detailed analysis of their strengths, gaps and areas for improvement, taking into account the digital maturity level of each State.
“Built around three key pillars – Enabling Environment, Building Blocks, and Delivery of Public Services – the DPI Readiness Index offers a holistic approach to understanding the digital landscape of each state and how it intersects with public service delivery for citizens,” he stressed.
Another tool, Intelligent Revenue Authority (IRA) Index, is a service specific tool designed to assess the integration of Digital Public Infrastructure with revenue administration.
“The tool achieves this by evaluating core functionalities, operational efficiency and structural characteristics of revenue administration and the integration of key DPIs, such as digital IDs, data exchange mechanisms and payment systems to connect business logic and organisational silos,” he explained.
Shittu also explained that the IRA index aims to modernise revenue administration and fiscal management through a DPI-centred approach.
According to him, as part of its design-thinking process, NGF is holding a validation workshop on Monday, January 27, which will bring together technical experts from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to review their feedback on the readiness tools.
“The workshop will discuss cases, preliminary feedback trends and recommendations on treatment measures. The primary institutions invited for the event are the ministry/department/agency responsible for driving the digital transformation agenda of the states and the state internal revenue services. These representatives will be formally constituted as the reference group for DPI implementation at the state-level.”
MEANWHILE, the Jigawa State Government has announced that property, estimated at N5 billion, were destroyed during the nationwide protests that took place in August 2024.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the fact-finding committee on the protests, Bello Fanini, during the presentation of the committee’s findings to Governor Umar Namadi at the Council Chambers of the Government House in Dutse yesterday.
Fanini, who is also the state’s Commissioner for Justice, revealed that the damaged properties included assets owned by the federal, state and local governments, as well as private individuals.