Nigeria is set to enforce a digital transformation across its public sector with the introduction of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill. If enacted, the bill will mandate that public institutions adopt electronic communication for official correspondence, contracts, and legal processes. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will oversee the implementation of these new requirements.

Released by Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, the draft bill follows its first reading in the National Assembly. The legislation aims to revolutionize how public institutions operate, requiring them to handle document filings, information processing, document creation, retention, permit and license issuance, and payment processing electronically.

“The bill represents a significant shift towards digitalization, driven by a strong commitment to change,” remarked Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, Managing Partner at DigitA.

Under the bill, government organizations would be required to maintain electronic records and contracts. Non-compliance would incur fines of at least ₦1 million for individuals and ₦10 million for corporations, according to the proposed guidelines.

The bill also plans to establish a new ICT division, potentially conflicting with existing regulations managed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and NITDA.

Critics suggest that the bill is somewhat unwieldy and should be split into two separate documents—one focused on the Digital Economy and the other on E-Governance. An anonymous analyst pointed out that some aspects of the bill overlap with existing Nigerian laws, questioning the necessity of such integration.

“The bill could have been more effectively presented as a directive from the President, guiding various institutions towards cohesive e-governance,” said Guobadia. He emphasized that the success of the bill will depend on a collaborative approach during its development.

If enacted, the Digital Economy Bill will advance Nigeria’s e-governance capabilities, aligning the country with other African nations like Ghana, Mauritius, South Africa, and Tunisia, which have higher e-government development indexes. This initiative is also expected to boost digital literacy among government employees.

Davidson Oturu, Managing Partner at Nubia Capital, noted, “The bill has the potential to greatly enhance public administration and service delivery in Nigeria.”

However, section 62 of the draft bill proposes to override any conflicting laws related to digital economy and e-governance, potentially leading to conflicts between existing agencies that already manage aspects of these functions.