Nigeria Moves Towards Digital Governance With E-Governance Bill

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, says the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill will transform how the government operates and how citizens access public services, ushering in a more transparent and technology-driven system.

Dr Abbas made the remarks at a one-day public hearing on the bill, jointly organized by the Senate and House Committees on ICT and Cybersecurity in Abuja.

“This legislation is not just about new laws; it is about a new way of governance, one that is efficient, transparent, and centered on citizens,” the Speaker said.

He said the bill would provide a legal foundation for digital governance, data protection, cybersecurity, and equal access to technology, ensuring that no Nigerian rural or urban is excluded from the country’s digital future.

Dr Abbas stressed that digital transformation has become a national necessity, vital to economic competitiveness, accountability, and national security.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Digital, Information, Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, Adedeji Olajide, said the public hearing reflected Nigeria’s shared commitment to building a digitally inclusive and efficient governance system.

Olajide, who co-chaired the session with Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, commended the contributions from experts and stakeholders, saying they had strengthened the bill and enhanced its alignment with global standards.

He also praised Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for their leadership and input.

Tijani assured that President Bola Tinubu would sign the bill once it passes the National Assembly.

Senator Salisu, chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT, noted that once enacted, the legislation would be the first of its kind in Africa in the area of digital economy and e-governance.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji