ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Dr Gabriel Akinremi, a Data Privacy and Protection Expert, has urged the Federal Government to digitalise the civil service for efficiency, enhance service delivery and data protection.
Akinremi gave the advice in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja in commemoration of Global Data Privacy Day.
The Data Privacy Day is globally celebrated on Jan. 28 to raise awareness on the importance of protecting personal information and promoting privacy practice.
The week is celebrated in Nigeria by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, with the theme “Fostering Trust and Inclusion Through Data Privacy”.
Akinremi said that as governments across the globe were digitalising public services, Nigeria needed to follow to enhance the service, provide digital protections and privacy for identities of civil servants.
“As the digital transformation of governmental operations is gaining momentum worldwide, Nigeria should not be an exception, ” he said.
He said that the introduction of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), was central to Nigeria’s efforts at modernising public services and streamline interactions with citizens.
Akinremi said that transforming the digital identity management in Nigeria’s civil service would reduce the threats, breaches, losses and misuse of civil servants data.
He also said that the digitalisation of the civil service would bring significant improvement in the service, aid effective monitoring, and improve public sector transparency and accountability.
“Digital transformation will ensure compliance to rules and regulations, and most importantly, ensure the protection and privacy of civil servants data.
“It would also improve the resilience of digital identity systems and advance the privacy rights of Nigerian civil servants,” he said.
According to him, the enactment, implementation and enforcement of compliance on data protection regulations in civil service remains crucial for its digitalisation.
Akinremi urged the government to invest in standard cyber-security technologies and skilled personnel to prevent cyber-attacks of civil service data-base.
He gave advice on the need for regular audit and assessment of the digital identity systems to easily identify threats and vulnerabilities, and provide swift solutions to dangers.
reports that the Nigeria Data Protection Commission recently launched the National Certification Programme for Data Protection Officers (DPOs). (NAN)
