Galaxy Backbone tops at BPSR’s 2024/2025 ranking of MDAs’ website
Orisemeke Benjamin
Galaxy Backbone has emerged tops in the ranking websites of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) with 49 points.
The Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) closely followed with 48 points while Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) came third with 47 points.
A total of 235 MDAs’ websites were evaluated in the 2024/2025 scorecard ranking.
In his address at the Official Release of Federal Government 2024/2025 Score Card Ranking For MDAs Website Monday in Abuja, BPRS Director-General Mr. Dasuki Arabi, said there is a need for MDAs to put in place websites that would help them to deliver better service to Nigerians.
He said: “Our website should be interactive, especially in this age of artificial intelligence where man is given space to machine, to engage and provide service.
“As an engine room of governance, it bestows on us in the public service that to perform our statutory duties, we must put in place technological innovations and standardised websites to operate services as well as deliver service needs to citizens.”
The BPSR Director General noted that the enthusiasm among MDAs to be part of the initiative is a clear “indication of our collective effort to be transparent, accountable and open in governance, as well as a confirmation to align with global best practices in service delivery to our citizens.
“This is a testament of how desirous our public institutions are ready to embrace reforms, and align with the policy direction of the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda on improving governance for effective service delivery, as introduced by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The Scorecard exercise is part of the BPSR reform broader function of conducting research on reform implementation efforts and presenting ‘best practice’ models to the entire Public Service, it is an important index metric of the National e-Government Masterplan for determining the Nigeria e-Government Status, and to among others improve access to government information, facilitate seamless financial transaction, eliminate corruption and cyber theft, as well as facilitate access to government services.
It is pertinent to state that this peer-review mechanism to bring MDAs’ websites to global standard is a panacea for effective implementation of our national e-government masterplan to improve Nigeria’s ranking among the comity of Nations, we therefore appeal that relevant agencies would work closely with us to develop and grow Information Technology for the betterment of the citizens and dividends of democracy.
In his keynote address, Secretary to the Government Of The Federation, Chief (Sen) George Akume, said the initiative reflects Federal Government commitment to openness, transparency and citizens’ engagement.
According to the SGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary General Services Office in the Office of the SGF, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the use of websites by MDAs is critical for disseminating information, delivering public services to citizens, and ensuring access to data and resources needed by citizens.
Akune said: “The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) developed a scorecard template for ranking the proficiency of MDAs websites. The essence is to ensure that their websites meet global standards that will enhance the ease of doing business and are critical to effective and efficient service delivery. It is also designed to ensure that MDAs are more accessible to the public on their operations and overall mandates and information on their activities is made readily available and disseminated widely to the public.
“Similarly, the Scorecard is an important index metric of the National e-Government Masterplan for determining the Nigeria e-Government Status. The expectation was that, when websites of the MDAs are fully standardized, it would help to improve access to government information, facilitate access to government services online, reduce man-to-man contact and eliminate corruption in public financial transactions, as well as curb online scams including identity theft associated with websites.”
The SGF urged MDAs to improve the functionality and integrity of their website.
