By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is deploying digital technologies to enhance Nigeria’s agricultural development to ensure food security in the country.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Mohammad Abubakar, while receiving the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) documents from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Ernest Umakhihe, on Monday.
The Minister said it had become imperative to operate on that scale for more efficiency and productivity, saying, “This is in a bid to key into a technology-driven work process and procedure according to best global practices.”
“To achieve a dynamic civil service, the government has considered it pertinent to have laid down operating standards, hence the adoption of SOPs, which would significantly bring about an effective system of service delivery not only in the Ministry of Agric but service-wide,” he said.
Mr Abubakar said that the document is also a guide for the employee work process toward the full operationalization of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) with the mandate to digitalize records and automation workflow in the ministry.
He also commended the efforts of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Esan and her team for the laudable reforms going on in the civil service.
”I, therefore, urge all the respective Directors, Heads of Departments and their champions who are the owners of these documents, to ensure that the full operationalization of the developed SOPs align with the Ministry’s mandate.
”As well as vision and thus leading to the transition of its work processes to meet the demand of an increasingly technology-driven world in accordance with civil service reforms,” he said.
The Minister also encouraged management and staff to embrace the initiative and take it seriously in their various tasks, as the SOPs are globally recognised documents that provide the step-by-step instructions compiled to assist all officers in the service to perform their operational tasks accurately and effectively.
On his part, Mr Umakhihe expressed delight over the development (digitalization) in the Ministry.
”It is not a far-fetched fact that the developed SOPs would act as a complete guide for staff work processes.
”It is also an aspect of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) with the mandate to digitalize Ministry’s records and automate workflow to achieve the overall improvement in information sharing and collaboration across our Agencies, Institutes and State Offices as time goes on.
“It is my fervent belief and hopes that the implementation of SOPs will professionally boost the Ministry’s output and encourage all staff to give their best to the service of the nation and the ministry in particular.
“I am confident that the Ministry would benefit greatly by reducing errors, increasing productivity and efficiency and also create a safe work environment through these guides produced to resolve issues and overcome obstacles,” he said.
Modupe Gbadeyanka