Digital Competency and Public Sector Digital Transformation in Nigeria

Abstract

Digital transformation is a core component of the government's program towards improved service delivery, and the public sector's role in attaining a holistic transformation cannot be undermined. Accordingly, public sector institutions are critical for robust digital government initiatives toward improved efficiency and effectiveness for service delivery. Digital transformation encompasses key drivers and actors, including policy directives, digital technologies, human resources, etc. The human resource component of digital transformation for public sector agencies becomes imperative, as the technologies must act in collaboration, thus requiring digitally competent individuals to use the technologies available for service delivery. Evidence on the digital competency of civil servants in the Nigerian public sector highlights a relatively average aptitude for technology use and its features for work processes. This tallies with the present levels of digital transformation within the institutions, which, as highlighted by the study, is very marginal, where only a few processes are digitised. Therefore, the study recommends investments in technology to advance the state of digitalisation in the public sector and alter its procedures and policies to train its existing workforce, and to attract and retain top tech talents for improved competency and service delivery to citizens.