Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has pledged to adopt and implement the Federal Government’s digital innovation initiatives to boost efficiency and reform civil service operations in the state.
Governor Zulum made the commitment on Wednesday while receiving the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Maiduguri.
Commending recent federal reforms, Zulum expressed interest in domestication of key programmes such as the Service-Wise GPT, the online compendium of federal government circulars, and the Federal Civil Service Academy’s training initiatives. He noted that these tools would enhance both vertical and horizontal coordination within the Borno civil service.
“You enumerated a number of innovative programmes… I want to assure you that most of these shall be domesticated at the state level,” the governor said. He also advocated for renewed investment in institutions like the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), pledging to send state officials for capacity-building training.
Highlighting state support for federal institutions, Zulum disclosed that houses had been built and allocated to heads of federal agencies in the state, with plans to formally transfer ownership to the federal government.
Earlier, Mrs. Walson-Jack praised Governor Zulum for adopting progressive reforms, including the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and the enrolment of civil servants in the public sector health insurance scheme.
“Your development strides, particularly in education and infrastructure, reflect bold investments in people, not just in projects,” she said. “Your alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is evident.”
She also highlighted ongoing federal digital reforms aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in public service, citing the Service-Wise GPT tool and Govmail, a secure official email platform already adopted by over 34,000 federal employees.
Walson-Jack concluded by commending the state for restoring the Federal Training Centre in Maiduguri, which had been inactive due to the insurgency.
The visit marks a renewed partnership between the federal and Borno State governments to modernize public administration and enhance service delivery through digital transformation.
