By Milcah Tanimu
President Bola Tinubu has affirmed his commitment to forging partnerships with global technology companies to ensure the accuracy and transparency of data from public institutions. These collaborations aim to establish templates for effective public sector planning and accounting.
During a meeting with Mr. Andres Arroyo, Global Vice President of Oracle, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu recognized Oracle’s dedication to Nigeria’s civil service reform process and data management sector. He emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer through the establishment of academies and training institutions within the country.
The President outlined the government’s objectives, including the promotion of business ease, digital innovation, robust identity management, efficient payroll administration, and citizen-centric service delivery. He pointed to Oracle’s successful automation of the Lagos State payroll system as evidence of technology’s positive impact on enhancing accountability and expediting service delivery.
Tinubu also expressed concern about the bloated civil service payroll at both national and sub-national levels, underscoring the need for technological control to streamline transaction processes effectively.
In response, Mr. Arroyo proposed a comprehensive digital transformation of federal administration workflows, aiming to achieve greater macro-economic visibility, streamline government processes for cost and time savings, and provide opportunities for skills development.
Arroyo commended President Tinubu’s pragmatic leadership throughout his career and extended an offer for Oracle to conduct a free national diagnostic of the current state of the public service, assessing the scale of solutions required.
The President expressed his confidence in Oracle’s capabilities and affirmed his readiness to collaborate with the company to address these challenges, ultimately promoting efficient public administration in Nigeria.