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The Nigerian government this week in Abuja formally unveiled the National Policy on Virtual Engagements in Federal Public Institutions to serve all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
The virtual launch ceremony also included the commissioning of five other digital economy projects across the country including an Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
The minister said “Digital Economy projects are carefully thought out and executed efficiently with a view to ensure the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s Digital Economy.”
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Noting that the paradigm shift to virtual engagements in official circles globally was occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic, Pantami stressed the need for a policy to give legal impetus to the practice in public institutions.
His words: “The Policy which was approved by the Federal Executive Council on the 14th October 2020 was developed in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.Speaking further, Pantami noted that the Policy will “institutionalise frameworks and standards within Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of governments as well as government -owned companies using virtual engagement as an administrative procedure in service and significantly reduce the cost of governance”.
The ECC is located in Akure, the Ondo state capital, while the Digital Economy Centres are domiciled in Delta State University Abraka, Government Secondary School, Rigasa, Kaduna state and Federal University Gashua, Yobe state. This brings to a total of sixty four completed and fully functional projects commissioned under the minister’s watch.
Dignitaries at the event include Senator Obinna Ogbo representing the Chairman Senate Committee. On Communications, Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrimes, Senator Yakubu Oseni; Minister of State for Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu; Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogar and representative of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Uwem Ekpo.
