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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called for a fundamental shift in how government is designed, operated and experienced by citizens.
Kalu stated this, in his welcome address at the National GovTech Policy Roundtable 2026, yesterday, in Abuja.
The deputy speaker, who described the event as one of the most consequential conversations for Nigeria’s public sector at this particular time, advocated for a “Digital First Governance” approach in the quest for a sustainable public sector reform.
Kalu, who acknowledged that Nigeria had demonstrated strong ambition in digital transformation through initiatives such as digital identity programmes, payment systems, e-service platforms and data infrastructure, said the country must now move towards a more integrated framework.
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“Let me begin with an honest acknowledgement. Nigeria is not short of 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 in dozens. 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 the government is designed, how services are structured and how citizens are engaged,” he stated.
The Depu€ty Speaker, while highlighting the significance of the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, said the proposed bill offers a historic opportunity to establish a strong legislative foundation for Nigeria’s digital future.
According to him, the bill, if enacted, would mandate digital compliance across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to ensure interoperability of systems, clarify institutional roles and introduce enforcement mechanisms that go beyond political tenures.
