Digital Compliance Now Key to Promotion in Kogi Civil Service — HOS

The Head of Civil Service (HOS), Kogi State, Hajiya Falilat Yusuf Musa, has said that digital compliance will henceforth form a major requirement for career progression in the state civil service, including success in prescribed examinations for promotion.

She disclosed this Wednesday in Lokoja while declaring open a two-day Digital Transformation Training for Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Administration across the state’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The training, held at the Conference Hall of the State Secretariat Complex, was organised by the Kogi State Government in collaboration with Tethered Atoms Ltd.

Speaking on the theme: “From Understanding Digital Transformation to Using the Tools Built for You,” the HoS said the training was part of government’s efforts to transform the civil service from paper-based operations to a more efficient, technology-driven system.

She said the civil service could no longer operate outside the global digital transition, stressing that digitalisation would make government business faster, more transparent and easier to track.

According to her, electronic transmission of official documents would eliminate delays associated with the movement of physical files, while digital records would reduce the time spent searching for documents in offices.

The HoS recalled an experience in which a communication sent to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja was rejected because it was not transmitted through the prescribed online channel.

“That experience was instructive. It showed us clearly that the transition to digital platforms for communication, document management and collaboration is irreversible,” she said.

She listed some of the digital platforms being deployed under the state’s transformation agenda as the Smart Kogi App, KogiConnect, KogiVault, the Head of Service Website and Career Portal, as well as the Training and Staff Improvement Management component.

Falilat stressed that the platforms were not merely applications but instruments designed to fundamentally change the way government operates and delivers services to citizens.

She charged the Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Administration to see themselves as leaders who must ensure that the knowledge acquired at the training was cascaded to their respective MDAs.

The HoS also called for greater collaboration among government institutions, noting that delays in one office could affect the performance of others.

She expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for approving and supporting the programme, urging the participants to actively participate, ask questions and contribute ideas towards improving the digital transformation process.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training in Industrial and Labour Matters, Mr Ajibade Abimbola Babafemi, said the training was designed to build basic competence among senior officials in line with the state government’s digital agenda.

He said participants were expected to acquire a better understanding of digital transformation and be prepared to embrace and implement the new systems when fully deployed across the MDAs.

Babafemi also stressed the importance of cascading the knowledge acquired to subordinate officers in their respective offices.

Also speaking, the permanent secretary, Admin and Public Service in the Office of the Head of Service, Dr Aisha Mohammed Atojoko, described the initiative as a welcome development capable of improving efficiency, transparency, record management and service delivery across the state.

She said the adoption of digital systems would reduce delays, enhance accountability and ensure that government business was conducted in a more structured manner.

Similarly, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Aminu Salami, described the training as timely, commending Governor Ododo for what he described as his commitment to workforce development.

“We commend him with trust and confidence. He has been doing well and I know he will do more for Kogi State,” Salami said.

He added that participants had embraced the programme and were looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills acquired to improve service delivery in their respective MDAs.