Oyo stakeholders seek speedy passage of digital economy, e-governance bill

The stakeholders who gathered in Ibadan on Tuesday, said the passage of the bill would smoothen government activities and boost government-citizen engagement.

This was the submission of speakers at a stakeholders’ engagement on the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill held in Ibadan.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Olatunbosun Tijani, represented by Banke Ajagunna, in his remarks at the event, noted that the importance of the bill cannot be underestimated as it will enhance the digital economy and build trust between the government and the people, urging Nigerians and the National Assembly to give the bill the needed support.

According to him, the consultative engagement is going on in all the states of the federation to seek the input of stakeholders on the bill, submitting that the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, 2024, is a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

He noted that in a bid to migrate Nigeria into a smart country, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy proposed the bill, stating that the bill offers numerous opportunities for businesses to innovate and expand with improved digital infrastructure and a supportive regulatory environment.

He highlighted the advantages of the E-governance bill to include Economic Transformation and Establishment of a regulatory foundation to encourage digital commerce, cross-border trade, and innovation, positioning Nigeria as a major player in Africa’s digital landscape.

“It will facilitate the digital transformation of government services to make them more transparent, accessible, and responsive to citizens. It will promote infrastructure and digital literacy programs to make digital services accessible across Nigeria, including underserved regions”, he said.

The Senior Special Assistant on ICT and E-Governance to Governor Seyi Makinde,  Mr. Bayo Akande, hailed the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, stating that it will drive economic growth through digital technology.

According to him, “Despite advances in technology, Nigeria’s digital economy faces critical challenges, Nigeria lags behind countries with robust e-governance frameworks that empower citizens and protect consumer data. Without intervention, Nigeria risks losing economic opportunities in an increasingly digital world.”

“Though Oyo has already started to introduce digital methods in the governance space of the state, as the state recently deployed Business Process Automation, in a bid to make Oyo state government services go paperless, the bill is a step in the right direction.”

Present at the event include various stakeholders and several tech ecosystem leaders.