Addressing Nigeria a conference o e-government on Thursday in Lagos, Mr Ndukwe said Nigeria should embrace new technologies like other developing countries of the world.
The theme of the conference was; ‘Powering Governance with Information and Communication Technology’.
“We have been a bit slow in adopting ICT in Nigeria. Our government has been slow to embrace technology. Government agencies hardly take their website seriously.
“Technology is moving ahead to be able to sort out problems for the future and Nigeria cannot be left behind,” said the former NCC chief executive.
Mr Ndukwe cited the example of the nation’s land and seaports where adoption of new technologies could ensure faster and accurate scanning and clearing of goods.
The former NCC boss said that technology could also solve 80 to 90 per cent of problems in tax collection which would earn government more revenues to provide social services for the populace.
“Nigeria is the giant of Africa, we must also be giant of Africa even in the area of technology by adopting and mainstreaming technology in governance in our country,’’ Mr Ndukwe said.
Also speaking at the event, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the introduction of e-government was beneficial to government in several ways, most significantly, in the area of public procurement and electronic applications.
Mr Dambata, who was represented by Dr Henry Nkemadu, NCC Director of Public Affairs, said e-government had expanded access to potential suppliers and increased the number of offers received in a timely manner.
“In Nigeria, the deliberate decision to deploy ICT for public service delivery is, in part, traceable to the formulation of the Nigerian National Telecommunications Policy in 2000.
“ The policy seeks to make Nigeria an ICT-driven country in Africa and a key player in the information society and also use IT for education, wealth creation, poverty eradication, job creation, governance, health and agriculture.
“Through the policy, the Federal Government expressly announced the initiative of the government to deepen its digital and online presence to enhance its operation of the government in providing public services in a transparent, effective and efficient means,” he said.
