Obaseki: We’re working to fully digitise Edo governance system before my tenure ends

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says his administration is working to ensure that the state’s governance system is fully digitalised by the end of his tenure.

Obaseki said this on Thursday at the broadband technical awareness forum for governors organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Abuja.

While citing Edo as an example of a state setting trends in the digital economy, the governor said technology plays a role in enabling an accountable governance system.

“Technology as a vertebra enables a smarter, transparent, and effective governance system. Technology and ICT are no longer a preservative for the private sector. In fact, they are required more in governance,” he said.

“We have noticed in Edo, particularly, that since COVID, broadband penetration has cut down the cost of governance significantly. We have been able to adopt ICT and push the frontiers of broadband.

“Today, the platform which bureaucracy runs in Edo state today is technology-driven. We have the e-gov system from which all payments in the states are approved. All civil servants in Edo state are connected.

“I made a promise that I’ll be the last governor of Edo state to work with physical files and we have started making plans so that by the time I leave office Edo will be fully digital.”

According to Obaseki, the primary school system has been digitalised to enable an effective monitoring and accountability structure.

“As some of you may know, Edo state is on its way to building one of the greatest education systems on the continent through what we call Edo Best,” he said.

“All our 15,000 primary school teachers have tablets in which all the information required required to teach children are on it. It also means that I have access from my end to see which teacher is in class and which teacher isn’t.”

TheCable has not yet independently verified the governor’s claim on Edo Best.

Obaseki, however, assured the NCC of states’ support to achieve the country’s national broadband plan, adding that there needs to be an “open relationship” between the federal and state governments.