Plateau state Governor, Da Jonah Jang has said that all members of the State Executive Council were expected to be computer literate to speed up governance by minimising delays.

The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Francis Bot said so at the beginning of Comprehensive Computer Literacy training for members of the state executive council in Jos on Monday.

Plateau state Governor, Da Jonah Jang has said that all members of the State Executive Council were expected to be computer literate to speed up governance by minimising delays.

The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Francis Bot said so at the beginning of Comprehensive Computer Literacy training for members of the state executive council in Jos on Monday.

Bot said that ICT knowledge would enhance governance and improve efficiency. “One thing I know, and the world now knows, is that we don’t have, and can’t have computer illiterates in Plateau executive council. This is made possible by the collaboration of the State Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology and Directorate of ICT of the University of Jos.”

He added that the training became necessary because of the governor’s desire to transform the entire state. He said that it would bring it in tune with the computer-literate world and that the trend has started with the executive and will eventually trickle down.

The governor through the Chief of Staff advised the trainees to put the knowledge into constant use, pointing out that failure to do so would make them lose what they had acquired. He said “Let us dedicate 30 minutes a day to work with our computers because we will become experts by so doing.”

Plateau state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Professor Comfort Piwuna whose ministry is coordinating the training commended the Governor for investing heavily on ICT and e-governance. Piwuna stated that e-governance was a global phenomenon as many countries had embraced it for its numerous and obvious advantages.

She said “The advantages are many. It aids transparency, productivity and efficiency. With e-governance, we can hold our meetings with the governor without coming to sit in one place; all we need to do is to link up via the Skype.”

The state Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr Solomon Maren who is one of the trainees stated that officials were being empowered to search for help online. He said “We have to be able to type our memos ourselves, without necessarily involving secretaries. That way, we shall minimise mistakes usually made in the rush to meet deadline”.
Maren added that the commissioners also needed the knowledge to use the ICT gadgets given to them by the governor to enhance their jobs.

Dr Tanko Ishaya who is the Director of ICT, University of Jos, said the executive members were being taught how to use ICT to shore up efficiency. He said that the focus would be on general computer application and usage, use of social media to interact with citizens of the state and teaching on how to search information online.

He “We also teach them how to organise distant meetings using the Skype. It means that the executive council meetings could be held even if the governor is not in the state”.

The training exercise is for commissioners, heads of parastatal agencies and permanent secretaries and top Government officials.

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Plateau state executive members undertake computer training program