Governors’ Forum Rallies FG, States On Digital Reform

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has urged federal and state governments to intensify collaboration in accelerating digital public infrastructure (DPI) reforms, stressing that digital transformation is now a national imperative for improved governance, service delivery and revenue mobilisation.

Speaking at the NGF’s flagship DPI Peer Learning Event, which opened in Abuja on Monday, the Director General of the Forum, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, said the programme marked a turning point in Nigeria’s public finance and governance landscape.

The two-day event at the Wells Carlton Hotel brings together senior state government officials, federal institutions, development partners, and regulatory agencies to chart a course for deeper digital integration across government services.

“This is no longer a matter of choice,” Dr Shittu said. “Digital transformation is an absolute necessity. We must leverage open, accessible and interoperable systems to improve governance, mobilise domestic revenues, and deliver quality public services to our people.”

Shittu said the NGF’s new DPI workstream had expanded stakeholder engagement beyond state finance ministries and tax authorities to include federal institutions critical to the digital economy and infrastructure ecosystem.

Among the key guests recognised were the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, and the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, MD/CEO of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Premier Oiwoh, MD/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, and National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji.

The presidential adviser on economic and financial inclusion, Dr Nurudeen Zauro, also attended, alongside representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), state revenue boards, and the Joint Tax Board.

The highlight of the opening session was the launch of two new reports: a Foundational DPI Readiness Report for State Digital Transformation Authorities and an Intelligent Revenue Authority (IRA) Readiness Report for subnational revenue agencies.

The reports, developed in partnership with Microsave Consulting (MSC), provide in-depth assessments of all 36 states and the FCT, including individualised roadmaps to guide digital governance reforms.

“These reports are the result of over a year of work, mapping out where each State stands and what steps are needed to scale public-facing digital services and optimise revenue systems,” Dr Shittu said.

He added that the Digital Domestic Revenue Mobilisation (DDRM) initiative—launched by NGF last year—was based on the understanding that DPI holds transformative potential for fiscal reform at the subnational level.

According to him, the foundational pillars of DPI—digital identity, digital payments, and digital exchange systems—are critical enablers for improving citizen access to services and ensuring transparency and efficiency in public finance.

Shittu said the peer learning format of the event aimed to spark strategic exchanges between state and federal institutions, foster alignment on national priorities, and encourage practical collaborations.

“Your experiences, questions, insights—these are vital,” he told the delegates. “They help shape the broader assistance programme we are designing for State governments. They help identify what works and doesn’t—from policy to implementation.”

He expressed appreciation to the Forum’s long-time partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Joint Tax Board, for their sustained support since the inaugural peer learning event in 2015.