Korean agency to train 22,650 Nigerian officials on e-government

Asipa emerges President of ex-council chairmen

THE Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) plans to train 22,650 Federal Government workers on e-government before 2017.

The Country Director of KOICA, Jung Sang-Hoon, who disclosed this in Abuja at a workshop on e-government Master Plan 2020, said the agency would spend $8.6million on the training, which is expected to make Nigeria’s civil service one of the best in the world.

The KOICA country director, who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the workshop, said: “It is a step towards making the officials more effective. Only ICT can bring about positive change in Nigeria. If Nigeria can embrace e-government, corruption will be curbed.”

Earlier in his speech, the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu said the positive change promised by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration would be impossible without competence and efficiency in e-governance.

Shittu said: “The benefits of speed, propriety, best-option, transparency, accountability and mass-participation in government available only via the e-government framework and platform make it a sine qua non for meaningful and sustainable political and social economic growth and development”.

Meanwhile, a veteran journalist and former Chairman, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, Durojaiye Asipa, has been elected the National President of Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria (ASELGON).

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the ASELGON, Abdalar Abubakar, stated that Asipa has consequently pledged to engage relevant stakeholders with a view to strengthening local government administration in the country.

The stakeholders to be engaged include the Governors Forum, National and State Houses of Assembly members, the NUJ, Civil Societies and traditional rulers.

He added: “To put local administration on the right track, especially on the issue of autonomy which is not about confrontation with the Governors Forum or any other stakeholders.  All it enquired is constructive engagement and for all concerned to demonstrate utmost patriotism that can move the polity forward.”