The Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has announced the introduction of a newly developed Participatory Policy Implementation Framework (PPIF), designed to enhance accountability and ensure the sustainability of policies across various sectors.
In an official statement released on Thursday, the ministry confirmed that it had received the framework on July 25, 2024, from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria. The PPIF is expected to play a pivotal role in driving effective and inclusive policy implementation nationwide.
Faruk Yabo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, highlighted the framework’s potential to strengthen the impact and sustainability of policies through a participatory approach. “The framework was developed through a series of design sprints and focus group sessions at both national and sub-national levels, involving key stakeholders from diverse sectors,” Yabo explained. “This approach ensures robust and inclusive digital policy implementation, fostering enhanced collaboration between regulators, the public sector, and the private sector.”
Yabo also praised the stakeholders involved in the framework’s development, noting their dedication and expertise. “The vision behind this initiative is to create a participatory policy-making process at both federal and state levels,” he added.
Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), emphasized the framework’s critical role in fostering economic growth and employment opportunities. “The framework is designed to help subnational governments apply national digital policies effectively, aiming to create more jobs and stimulate economic growth,” Abdullahi stated. “Our ambitious target is to achieve 95% digital literacy by 2030, and this framework will be instrumental in reaching that goal.”
Markus Wauschkuhn, Coordinator of the Sustainable Economic Development Cluster (SEDEC) at GIZ Nigeria, underscored the importance of stakeholder involvement for the long-term sustainability of policies. “When stakeholders are actively involved in the implementation of policies, those policies become more sustainable and adaptable across diverse contexts,” he said.
Thuweba Diwani, Head of Project at GIZ/DTC Nigeria, added that the PPIF would not simply be handed over but would be accompanied by socialization sessions at the subnational level. These sessions are designed to guide policy actors from the public, private, and civil society sectors in effectively utilizing the framework to implement key digital policies in their respective states.
The introduction of the PPIF marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts, with the potential to drive lasting change across multiple sectors through enhanced collaboration and accountability.
