Preparing for e-government : some findings and lessons from government agencies in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

E-government, which entails use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to drive different government processes, promises diverse benefits to governments and citizens. Governments need to understand e-government adequately in order to invest profitably in it, and that can be promoted through studies that assess the development of prerequisite conditions for e-government in government agencies. This study therefore assessed the preparedness for e-government by Oyo State government agencies in 2006. Data were collected from 134 public servants in 20 of the 45 state agencies. The study found that public servants were motivated to embrace e-government innovations less by citizens' desire for participation and information access; that they viewed e-government more in terms of improving inter-unit coordination than saving costs or reducing corruption; that the capacities of agencies in respect of electronic systems for capturing, processing and disseminating information to citizens was weak; and that there were no e-government plans in the state or in individual agencies. The study recommended programmes to enlighten governments, citizens and public servants on e-government; e-government strategies and plans to build networks, databases and websites; and support by all stakeholders for a freedom of information law for the country.