Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, announced that the Federal Government plans to develop standardized websites for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to improve access to information on government services. This decision aims to address complaints from many Nigerians about the difficulty in accessing information due to the inconsistent design of MDA websites.
The minister revealed this initiative during the 6th edition of the monthly Devs-In-Government meeting in Abuja. The project will involve creating standardized government websites for all institutions, ensuring easier access, enhanced security, and a unified virtual identity. A special advisory board will review and refine the project before presenting it to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for adoption. Once approved, all government agencies will be required to migrate to the new standardized platform.
The initiative intends to harmonize website designs across MDAs, making it simpler for Nigerians to navigate and access government services. The project will involve collaboration with government IT experts and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which already has guidelines in place. The ministry will work with NITDA to interpret these guidelines in clear terms and incorporate feedback from the public to develop a user-friendly standard.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the Executive Commissioner of the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), emphasized the importance of considering individual data protection and cybersecurity in the project. The Devs-In-Government initiative, which convenes tech professionals in government, aims to advance the nation’s technological landscape.