Abstract
Purpose - Nigeria set up e-government initiative termed National e-Government Strategy (NeGSt) for the purpose of using ICT infrastructure to enhance her public services. It was expected that e-government would enable Nigerian governments at all level to render efficiencies in the public sector, ensure higher productivity and economic growth, foster national competitiveness and lead to the attainment of her vision 20-2020. Regrettably, the e-services envisaged seem not to be impacting much on the public service delivery in the country. This paper examines the benefits and the status of e-government in Nigeria, the barriers to the accomplishment of the goal and some ways out.Design/methodology/approach - Ten federal government ministries in Nigeria that have official website was sampled. The study population was the one hundred (100) employees in the ministries that were randomly drawn using structured questionnaire and oral interviews. Data was analyzed using frequency tables, simple percentages, and bar chart. Findings - This study found that e-government would provide faster access to government information, lowers administrative costs, increases transparency in Government Ministries, and reduces bribery and corruption, and others. These opportunities are threatened by low bandwidth and internet penetration, inadequate ICT infrastructure and technicians, incessant power outage, technological obsolescence, and other barriers. Nigerian government should carry out a SWOTS analysis of e-government project in the country, strengthen e-government infrastructure and ensure steady power supply before embarking on e-government project.Practical implications - This paper exposed the challenges and strategies for e-government initiative in Nigeria. It would help the leaders to see the areas of their weaknesses and the needs to re-strategize. The paper would serve as a beacon for further research and discussion on e-government and online public services in developing countries.Originality/value - This paper exposed the challenges and strategies for e-government initiative in Nigeria and suggests some measures for e-government to development to improve.
Purpose - Nigeria set up e-government initiative termed National e-Government Strategy (NeGSt) for the purpose of using ICT infrastructure to enhance her public services. It was expected that e-government would enable Nigerian governments at all level to render efficiencies in the public sector, ensure higher productivity and economic growth, foster national competitiveness and lead to the attainment of her vision 20-2020. Regrettably, the e-services envisaged seem not to be impacting much on the public service delivery in the country. This paper examines the benefits and the status of e-government in Nigeria, the barriers to the accomplishment of the goal and some ways out.Design/methodology/approach - Ten federal government ministries in Nigeria that have official website was sampled. The study population was the one hundred (100) employees in the ministries that were randomly drawn using structured questionnaire and oral interviews. Data was analyzed using frequency tables, simple percentages, and bar chart. Findings - This study found that e-government would provide faster access to government information, lowers administrative costs, increases transparency in Government Ministries, and reduces bribery and corruption, and others. These opportunities are threatened by low bandwidth and internet penetration, inadequate ICT infrastructure and technicians, incessant power outage, technological obsolescence, and other barriers. Nigerian government should carry out a SWOTS analysis of e-government project in the country, strengthen e-government infrastructure and ensure steady power supply before embarking on e-government project.Practical implications - This paper exposed the challenges and strategies for e-government initiative in Nigeria. It would help the leaders to see the areas of their weaknesses and the needs to re-strategize. The paper would serve as a beacon for further research and discussion on e-government and online public services in developing countries.Originality/value - This paper exposed the challenges and strategies for e-government initiative in Nigeria and suggests some measures for e-government to development to improve.
