Deputy Speaker Wants Digital Overhaul Of Public Services

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called for a digital first governance approach which is the cornerstone of sustainable public sector reform.

In his welcome address at the National GovTech Policy Roundtable 2026, Kalu described the gathering as one of the most consequential conversations for Nigeria’s public sector at this critical point in the nation’s development.

In a press statement yesterday, his special assistant on Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, the deputy speaker said while Nigeria had demonstrated strong ambition in digital transformation, through initiatives such as digital identity programmes, payment systems, e-service platforms and data infrastructure, the country must move beyond that to a more integrated framework.

According to him, “Digital First Governance” was not merely a theme for the roundtable but a strategic posture that requires embedding technology into the architecture of governance.

Kalu explained that this means designing policies, services, and systems with digital delivery, accessibility, and sustainability at their core, especially for citizens with limited connectivity, literacy challenges, or disabilities.

“Let me begin with an honest acknowledgement.

Nigeria is not short on ambition when it comes to digital transformation.

Over the past decade, we have launched digital identity programmes, deployed payment infrastructure, stood up e-service portals, and invested in data systems.

“We have celebrated many firsts. We have produced policy frameworks,white papers, and strategy documents by the dozen.The theme of this Roundtable: Digital First Governance, is a strategic posture.

“It demands that we stop treating technology as an afterthought, a modernisation exercise, or a donor-funded pilot project. It demands instead that we embed digital thinking into the very architecture of how government is designed, how services are structured, and how citizens are engaged,” He said

The Deputy Speaker highlighted the significance of the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, describing it as a historic opportunity to establish a strong legislative foundation for Nigeria’s digital future.

He noted that, if enacted, the bill would mandate digital compliance across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), ensure interoperability of systems, clarify institutional roles, and introduce enforcement mechanisms that go beyond political tenures.

Earlier in his remarks, Director of GOVTECH AFRICA, Fortune Toma, noted that governments across the continent are increasingly leveraging digital identity systems, interoperable platforms, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies to close service delivery gaps and enhance transparency.

He noted that the roundtable goes beyond being a routine gathering and will serve as a working platform designed to ask difficult questions, challenge long-held assumptions, and foster the co-creation of practical and actionable solutions.