The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of its digital transformation agenda for the Federal Civil Service with the inauguration of an 11-member Technical Working Committee to develop a framework for the initiative.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, inaugurated the committee on Friday following the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the Federal Civil Service Digital Transformation Progress Report.

The committee is tasked with developing a Digital Transformation Implementation Framework and Roadmap to guide the expansion, adoption and sustainability of digitalisation across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Walson-Jack said the framework must address key areas including policy, governance, institutional coordination, interoperability, cybersecurity, financing, digital readiness, capacity development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

She stressed the need to move the Civil Service beyond fragmented digital initiatives and establish a coordinated government-wide digital ecosystem.

“The time has come for the Federal Civil Service to move beyond isolated and fragmented digital initiatives and establish a coherent, Government-wide digital ecosystem,” she said.

According to her, the reform should ensure that government platforms can communicate effectively, information flows securely and administrative processes are simplified.

However, the Head of Service cautioned that technology alone would not guarantee the success of the initiative, noting that the people, processes and institutional culture of the Civil Service must evolve alongside digital systems.

She said public servants would require adequate training and support to effectively adopt and deploy digital tools in their duties.

Walson-Jack said the initiative aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan and the broader objective of building a professional, world-class and digitally enabled public service capable of supporting national development and delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nadungu Gagare, described the assignment as strategic and timely.

Gagare assured the Head of Service that members would deploy their expertise and collaborate with relevant government institutions and stakeholders to produce a practical and sustainable framework suited to the realities of the Nigerian Civil Service.

The committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Deborah Odoh, while the Director, ICT Service-Wide, Alex Gwaske, serves as Secretary.

Other members include the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Danjuma; Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, Danjuma Kalba; Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi; and Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Adebowale Adedokun.

Also on the committee are Joy Baderin, Uwem Ekpo, Gideon Adogbo, Uyiosa Ebuehi and other senior government officials.

The ICT Service-Wide Department of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation will serve as the committee’s secretariat.

The committee has been given one week to submit its first report to the Head of Service.

The report will form the basis for the establishment of a Steering Committee, to be chaired by Walson-Jack, to provide strategic oversight for the implementation of the digital transformation agenda.

The Office of the Head of the Civil Service said the initiative would deploy technology as a strategic tool to improve efficiency, strengthen accountability and deliver better services to civil servants and Nigerians.