The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has launched an ambitious drive to equip Nigeria's civil service with critical digital skills. This initiative is a direct response to the Federal Government's target of achieving 80 percent computer literacy among workers in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by the year 2026.
Building a Digitally Skilled Workforce
Acting Chairman of the FCC, Hon. Kayode Oladele, unveiled this strategic plan during a two-day sensitisation workshop held in Abuja and Keffi. The event, organised in partnership with Pyrich Group Limited, focused on training desk officers from various MDAs on the online submission of nominal roll data.
Oladele stated that this programme is a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which places a strong emphasis on digital transformation and evidence-based governance. He articulated the Commission's vision to keep pace with global digital trends and set the standard for using technology to improve governance.
From Manual Records to Real-Time Data
The FCC Chairman did not mince words about the shortcomings of the old system. He pointed out that for decades, the public service has been bogged down by slow, error-prone, and outdated manual record-keeping. "We cannot govern a 21st-century nation with 20th-century tools," Oladele declared, framing the shift to digital systems as a national necessity.
Mr. Paul Abiade, the Director of Management Information Systems at the FCC, elaborated on the technical benefits. He explained that the new digital platform will eliminate the delays and inconsistencies of manual submissions, allowing MDAs to transmit staff information in real time. He urged the participating desk officers to fully embrace the training, labelling them as the "change agents" for these vital reforms.
A Collaborative Effort for National Reform
Hon. Oladele commended Pyrich Group Limited for its collaboration, describing the partnership as a model for sustainable public-private cooperation. The importance of this initiative to the FCC's core mandate was also highlighted. Oladele stressed that the Commission's mission to promote equity, fairness, and inclusiveness in public appointments is entirely dependent on receiving credible, verifiable, and up-to-date data from all MDAs.
The workshop received a significant endorsement from academia. The Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Sa'adatu Hassan Liman, welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the university's commitment to supporting the public sector's digital transformation. Acknowledging that resistance to technology is common, she advocated for continuous training to overcome it and expressed the university's willingness to collaborate further on curriculum development and technical support.
