The desire by Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki to digitalise governance in Edo State cannot be more apt and timely than now.
This is because, it is unambiguously obvious right now that the current trend of events across the globe like regular human activities and life styles have indicated that every human society must not only partake from the merits and benefits of its application, but of necessity, join the digital technology pull.
Ranging from the instruments of peace, warfare, defence and diplomacy, up to live events; such as e-learning, e-conference, virtual meeting and to the more complexity of artificial intelligence, unman space dominance and control, the committed and successful application of digital technology has been very fundamental.
It has provided global semblance of a unified possibilities in the area of health, sports, education, media, transportation, agriculture and food production, personnel supervision as well as security.
In Edo State, the application of digital technology otherwise referred to as e-governance, is equally capable of institutionalising instruments of governance for the purpose of sustainable development. In this regard, it can as well help to create greater room for the regeneration of ideas, explicitly convivial to general human interactions.
The speed, ease and successful predictability of digital application all over the world, have further demystified any resistance by any society to join the trail and partake in its potential legacies, irrespective of the seemingly challenges.
In Edo State for instance, it is therefore important to emphasize that the earnest desire by Mr. Godwin Obaseki-led administration to apply digital technology to instruments of governance is heavily laced with endless possibilities.
Apart from the fact that it will help to institutionalise governance, it can also effortlessly create progress, achievements and legacies that will obviously outlive the present generation of Edo State and indeed, Nigeria.
Digital technology can create paperless office in Edo State and make interactions beyond borders overtly seamless.
The speed, efficiency and proof mechanisms highly associated with digital interactions can obviously create atmosphere of trust and confidence between and among Edo State government, its work force and the general public.
With effective adoption of e-governance policy in Edo State, accountability, transparency, ease of doing government business as well as the proper identification of the direction of government’s policies, program and philosophy, can become shared heritage for the purpose of better cooperation, enduring growth and development.
Digital application to governance can help to eliminate delay, identify point of impropriety, especially as it affects time of mail or file delivery and immediate response at every point in time.
For instance, one of the scarce desirables in the world today is money and the value it can bequeath any individual or group.
With your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, and with all the unassailable complexities relating to monetary value and its personalisation, you can still easily walk to any ATM machine for example and collect money without any fear of the fact of time, place, amount and even the individual that does the transaction being misrepresented.
This critical functional mechanism domiciled in the ATM machines can easily be transmitted to office business and transactions in the form of e-governance.
On the other hand, digital application to governance can also help to enhance the philosophy and reconcile the principle of responsibility, obligations and privileges in government offices.
This privilege has become absolutely necessary, taking into cognisance the nature of African societies where emphasises is placed only on statutory responsibilities and sanctions of the “lesser partner”, without adequately putting into the bargain, the rights, privileges and welfare of the workforce.
To this end however, it is equally important to commend Governor Godwin Obaseki for not only muting the idea of e-governance in Edo State, but also taking the motivating step of an all encompassing policy that will include not only infrastructure, training and worker responsibility, but also increased civil service reward system.
This no doubt will make Edo State a more organised society and a leading light among comity of states in Nigeria.
Governor Obaseki can also fortify the e-governance policy, either through legislation or by establishing a critical feedback mechanism. This can be designed with the principle of Service Compact (SERVICOM) in mind, where salient questions concerning service delivery, efficiency and client satisfaction can be directed and treated with dispatch, in line with the essence of his administration; considered in several quarters to be a government with human face.
This will in no small way; encourage the general public, particularly those at the grassroots to become enthusiasts and beneficial participants of this policy. It is in the interest of everyone to receive with open heart, this profound idea and contribute to its desired success in Edo State.
E-governance is the direction of the world right now. Its need is further intensified by the ravaging COVID-19 as it has changed the mode of physical interactions across the world in the last one year.
If the goals, aims and objectives of this policy is well disseminated to the generality of Edo people, especially with adequate provision of the needed devices and accessories that will enable seamless operations, everybody will be proud to participate both for the benefit and progress of all.
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Oboh Sylvester is an Editor with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER
