In line with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision to make the civil service a paperless system, Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Anthony Okungbowa Esq., has commenced an EDOGOV (Electronic Governance) Implementation Tour Programme to visit all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The Head of Service, accompanied by the Managing Director, Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Mr. Goodluck Igbinedion; Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Mr. George Igberaese; the Permanent Secretary, Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Mrs. Birgitta Okodugha, and the E-GOV team, explained that the purpose of the tour is to realize Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision of making Edo State the first in West Africa to achieve a fully paperless system.
In his words, “The Governor is committed to being the last to handle physical files, and as a result, he has set a clear deadline. From September 1st, 2023, there will be no more paper used in the government system.”
‘’To achieve this goal, certain measures need to be implemented, and one of them involves training both civil and public servants in the use of computers and the E-GOV platform,” he added.
Okungbowa disclosed that 3000 members of staff are already being trained, while further training relating to communication and interface is also ongoing.
The HOS further explained that the major aim of the tour is to ensure that there is a Kiosk (a stationed work computer)in every ministry, and also ensure that the deficiencies, lapses and every other issue that need to be addressed are sorted out to meet the September 1st deadline.
He was received at the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues by the Honourable Commissioner, Mrs. Christabel Omoh-Ekwu and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Barbara Osobajo. The HOS, after a thorough inspection of the Kiosk, advised the Ministry to take full advantage of the training by the E-GOV team to enable the proficiency of E-GOV in their Ministry.
In a Similar move, the Head of Service visited the Ministry of Justice, where he was received by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Prof. Faith Osadolor Osama, who affirmed that the Ministry is acquainted with E-GOV and that achieving a paperless government was possible for the Ministry.
The HOS swiftly directed the ICTA team to install a Kiosk for the Justice Ministry, while rounding off the tour for the day by visiting the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development (MPPHURD), where he was received by the Director of Housing, Mr. Godfrey Omoragbon, on behalf of the Commissioner.
The HOS, while addressing the staff of the Ministry, stated that the whole essence of the tour was to find out how the Ministry could meet up with the cutoff date for the full implementation of the paperless system, and that sanctions would be given to anyone who flouts the deadline. He admonished them to be committed to the vision, and to take full advantage of the training and the computers designated to the Ministry for their work.
Thereafter, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Mr George Igberaese, who is also part of the E-GOV team, added that the Government’s intention is that the September 1st deadline be held sacrosanct by all Ministries, Department and Agencies.
Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary, ICTA, Mrs Birgitta Okodugha, disclosed that there is a high rate of E-GOV adoption and by 1st of September, 2023, the State would have fully transitioned to the E-GOV system.
