By Daniel Tyokua
Benue state civil servants have endorsed the digital economic initiative of the current administration led by Governor Hyacinth Alia to drive the digital transformation.
They made their position known at a strategic stakeholders’ engagement held in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, recently.
The event was put together by the State Government in collaboration with the Benue State Digital Infrastructure Company Plc (BDIC) and the Benue State Digital Infrastructure Services Management Enforcement Agency (BENDISMEA).
It’s focus was to step up efforts in the implementation of the state’s Digital Economy Strategy and Government Digital Services Management System.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and read by the permanent secretary, Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Mr. Moses Tor-Levah, pointed out the pivotal role civil servants will play in driving the digital economy.
Tor Levah represented by the Head of Service of Benue State Government, called for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the digitalization policy across the state.
According to the communique, “Stakeholders have agreed to work together to ensure the successful rollout of the digitalization strategy and each MDA will appoint Desk Officers to oversee the implementation of the digital services.
“However, programme analysts will undergo specialised training at BENDISMEA to ensure the effective management and deployment of digital infrastructure services just as the Office of the Head of Service will initiate the development of Service Charters for each MDA to clearly define roles, expectations, and service standards.
“A statewide advocacy and sensitisation campaign will be launched to raise awareness and garner support for the digitalization policy.”
Themed “Design and Development of Implementation Requirements Document (IRD) for 48 Benue State Government Digital Infrastructure Services across all MDAs,” the engagement brought together Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Heads of various agencies and commissions within the Benue State Civil Service. The meeting’s primary goal was to ensure that these key stakeholders align with the state’s digitalization vision and actively participate in deploying digital services across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The communique explained that presentations by the Managing Director/CEO of BDIC Mr Terwase Gbande, and the Director-General of BENDISMEA Mr Solomon Adagba, detailed the 48 digital services systems that will be rolled out, emphasising their potential to improve service delivery and boost the state’s economy.
Officials of the government outlined that 20% of the revenue generated from these services would be retained by the respective MDAs, which is expected to empower agencies and promote capacity-building across the state. They also assured that the digital platforms would be fully optimised, without requiring additional resources or data from users.
The session followed a similar meeting on November 25, 2024, where stakeholders were introduced to the broader digitalization policy. This prior meeting had focused on preparing accounting officers in the state civil service to take the lead in the practical implementation of the digital strategy.
Several key projects with significant economic potential were also discussed during the event, including: Benue State Urban Management Information System: Expected to generate N12.02 billion in revenue and create 216 new jobs; Unified Health and Medical Records: Projected to generate N4.36 billion in revenue, benefiting over 14,700 citizens and Agricultural Access Platform: Expected to generate N408 million and create 406 jobs.
Other projects include security, transportation, education, and local government management were also highlighted, with a focus on improving transparency, efficiency, and service delivery across the state.
