By Modupe Gbadeyanka
As part of efforts to tackle corruption among civil and public servant as well as block leakages in government, the services of foreign companies have been requested for by the Federal Government.
According to reports, the FG is looking at using ICT to fight corruption in the country and as well restore sanity in the civil and public services.
The foreign firms to be hired by the government include Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation and Ericsson AB.
It was gathered that an initiative led by Redwood, California-based Oracle, has helped the FG remove about 50,000 ghost workers, or fake entries, from the payroll.
Managing Director of government-owned ICT firm, Galaxy Backbone, Mr Yusuf Kazaure, noted that there would additional 50 percent investment in ICT infrastructure in 2017.
Punch reports that Nigeria is seeking to recover from its worst economic downturn in more than two decades and is using technology to improve government revenue collection and attract investment.
Nigeria is ranked 136 out of 167 countries on Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index, a placing that may improve if the government is able to simplify processes such as the awarding of government permits, according to the Director, Public Sector Work, Microsoft Nigeria, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele.
In an emailed response to questions, Adeniji-Adele was quoted to have said, “The government’s digitisation drive is imperative in cutting out the middle man.
“The existence of middle men has left room for corrupt and illegal practices to thrive in governance and business in Nigeria.”
He said Microsoft was seeing an opportunity to advise and train users.
The Communications Adviser to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Constance Ikokwu, said the ministry was in talks with Microsoft to improve e-services, which ties into the government’s objective to improve World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking.
