Lorine Emenike
Rivers State Government is set to roll out the activities of the ICT department with innovations to improve service delivery for residents.
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on ICT, Asawo Ibufuro, stated that between March and September 2020, ICT platforms and Apps from the ICT Department would be rolled out to change the way things are done in government.
He said the most impacting is the automation of MDAs to be part of the governor’s major ICT dream to improve service delivery, the ease of doing business and the IGR of the state.
“Security will benefit too, as the State government has concluded arrangement to launch the 112 services in Rivers.
“By dialling 112, a distressed citizen can easily get help from the relevant emergency response centres or agencies such as Security agents, Fire Service, Road Safety, Medical and Health Emergency Centres, and others.
Also Read: Rotary Club urges Nigerians to embrace peace
“Other major projects to be rolled out in 2020 to launch the digital revolution include Digital Literacy Course TechCreek already ongoing; 21st Century Education Skills for Teachers TechCreek in April; CODEGAMINATORS project to produce digital youths in April; TechMarketers scheme to produce marketers in high-tech area; Techpreneurs scheme in April; automation of MDAs through the ICT Dept /Cinfores scheme for Urban and engagement of Ministry of Commerce in March; etc.
“There will be the rollout of the Rivers State ICT Policy in June; an ICT Challenge for Secondary Schools to create excitement and interest in schools in March; Creek Hackaton for hubs and undergraduates in April; a national conference on ICT in June; an ICT week in same April; and meeting LGA chairmen on need to have ICT tributaries in the 23 LGAs in March”.
Ibufuro also noted that there will be SME Registration in March so that businesses would be captured to boost informal tax drive.
He explained that the state’s Website/Rivers App to go full e-governance system would be in April; the Emergency Call Centre (112) would be launched in March; the RivLands & Urban platform would be rolled out in March; TechPreneurs Meet-ups would be in March, June, September & December; CODEGAMINATOR for junior persons would be in August; eAgric Portal would be rolled out in September; the Unified LGA Identification System would be out in July; the biometrics and physical verification of retirees and new employees would be monthly from February 2020.
According to him, with the recent innovation of digital operations and e-governance in Rivers State, citizens in the state cannot falsify their date of birth anymore and the millions ripped off the state from affidavits would come to an end.
He said other government services would be delivered promptly and transparently, thereby increasing confidence between the government and the citizens.
