Edo spends N20bn on ICT

By Emeka Aginam

As part of its commitment to achieving e-governance, Edo State Government, Wednesday, said that it had spent about N20 billion on different Information and Communications Technology projects in the state.

Executive Director of ICT in the state,  Mrs. Yemi Keri, who told newsmen at the ongoing  national Information Technology Public-Private Forum, NITPPF, organised by the Information Technology Association  of Nigeria, ITAN, said the money already invested on e-governance projects in the state formed a large chunk of the state revenue.

The idea, according to her,  was to digitalise critical operations  of the state government in order to improve service delivery and enhance effectiveness.

Governor of  Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole,  who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Simon Imoheme, said that the state had made substantial and sustained  progress in the application of ICT solution.

“We sponsored the NITPF  2011 because of our passion for IT. With the digitalization of our staff and pension rolls, we have substantially eliminated payroll fraud and phased out the ugly menace of ghost workers and ghost pensioners. Our e-tax solution has reached a take off stage.

“This solution is designed to restore the integrity of our tax system, aid self- assessment, eliminate fraud and ease the issuance of tax clearance certificates,” he added.