Mr. Lanre Ajayi, president, Nigerian Internet Group has urged the Federal Government to step up e-Government to enshrine accountable and transparency in governance.
He said that e-government would simplify delivery of services to citizens and eliminate bottlenecks in government business. " e-Government entails government using technology to provide services and information to individuals and businesses," he said.
Ajayi classified e-government into four categories: government to the citizens (G2 C), government to business (G2 B), government to government (G2 G) and government to employee (G2 E)
According to him, renewal of driving license, passport, job application and registration of vehicles could be accessed under government to citizens’ category.
"Applying for tenders, export license and company registration fall under G2 B while records sharing, disaster management and revenue allocation to states and local governments could be done online under G2 G. Civil servants should also calculate retirement benefits and check allowances online under the G2 E,” he stated.
He commended the Federal Government for the introduction of e-exams through Jamb online, e-election by Inec and e-passport by Immigration Service.
Ajayi stated that e-Government’s focal point in Nigeria was on the responsibility of National Information Technology Development Agency (Nitda) to formulate the policy and strategy.
Ajayi also identified challenges of e-Government as human barrier, poor infrastructure, high cost of band width and exchange point.
He stressed the need to bridge the broad band so that it could be accessed freely by everyone.