A scenario of not matching actions with words seems to be playing out at the level of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the ongoing drive to deepen ease of doing business being championed by the federal government.
According to experts, first factor in ease of doing business is seamless communication and contact, but a recent report presented by the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said “The assessment revealed that most of the websites are not in conformity with published standards and guidelines for government websites”.
“Most of the websites do not have feedback and information necessary to facilitate ease of doing business. For instance, only 25% and 37% of the websites have reachable phone numbers and email addresses respectively. In addition, some of the websites do not have complete list of website links of the Agencies under their supervision and the content outdated.
“Furthermore, some Ministries either have no active websites or are not registered on .GOV.NG domain. Businesses and citizens expect more transparent, accessible, and responsive services from government agencies and it is essential that Federal Ministries take the lead in ensuring that information provided on their websites meets such expectations.
Some of the key and embarrassing discoveries on MDAs’ websites by NITDA include poor contact information are accurate and reachable and means of interaction such as online feedback are integrated; the content and the list of website links of the Agencies under their supervision are complete and up-to-date; and detailed requirements or conditions for service provision and electronic mode of communicating acceptance and rejection of applications as stated in the executive order are conspicuously published.
Whereas the NITDA discoveries are yet to be attended to, only yesterday, the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, said the ease of doing business initiative of the federal government will make the process of doing business in the country a lot easier, thereby repositioning the economy.
Business Hilights recalls that federal government on May 18 endorsed and signed three Executive Orders expected to give boost to Nigeria’s concept of ease of doing business.
In an interview, the Minister said all civil servants in the country were aware of what the federal government aimed to achieve with the initiative and no one will treat it as business as usual because the orders also have sanctions and consequences for infractions.
Unfortunately, the minister may not be aware that even contacts on his ministry’s websites are not reachable when tried by our correspondent at press time on Wednesday.
