Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, on Thursday officially launched a new e-Governance System for Permanent Secretaries and key Directors across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), marking the commencement of the state’s Paperless Government Initiative.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Katsina Directorate of Information and Communication Technology Development (KATDICT), signalled a major step in the administration’s efforts to modernise public service delivery and strengthen digital governance in the state.
Governor Radda described the launch as a historic milestone in Katsina State’s transition to a modern, efficient and citizen-centred government. He said the initiative represents the first phase of a comprehensive reform designed to replace slow, paper-based processes with faster, cleaner and more accountable digital systems.
According to the Governor, the shift to e-Governance is the result of deliberate investments made by his administration to strengthen the state’s digital foundation. He noted that reliable electricity supply has been improved through the Department of Power and Energy, stressing that digital systems cannot function without stable power.
He also said broadband connectivity has been significantly expanded across all MDAs, giving ministries and agencies access to high-speed internet as the backbone of the new digital government framework. The Governor further highlighted improvements in ICT infrastructure, the repositioning of the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management (KSITM) and the State ICT Agency, as well as extensive capacity-building for civil servants.
Governor Radda said thousands of public servants have already been trained in computer literacy, data management, digital administration and electronic correspondence to prepare the workforce for full digital operations. He added that digital tools are already improving service delivery in critical sectors such as health, education, treasury operations, security coordination, revenue automation and public finance management.
He explained that the new e-Governance system will accelerate memo processing, reduce delays, minimise physical file movement, cut printing costs, secure confidential documents, enable remote approvals and improve productivity across MDAs. He said these reforms will align Katsina State with global best practices in digital governance.
Looking ahead, the Governor announced plans to construct a state-owned Data Centre next year to guarantee data sovereignty, redundancy and reliability, describing it as the future backbone of the state’s e-government services.
Governor Radda stressed that the Paperless Government Initiative goes beyond technology, describing it as a governance reform and cultural shift that requires new skills, mindsets and leadership commitment. He charged Permanent Secretaries and Directors to drive the reform within their MDAs, noting that their leadership would determine the depth and speed of its success.
He said the current phase targets senior officials but assured that the programme would soon be scaled to cover the entire civil service, with the aim of building an efficient, transparent, environmentally responsible and future-ready public administration.
The Governor expressed appreciation to KSITM, KATDICT, consultants, development partners and MDAs for their support, as well as the State Executive Council for endorsing the digital transformation agenda.
Earlier, the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Falalu Bawale, described the launch as one of the happiest moments of his career, saying the long-awaited dream of digitising Katsina’s civil service had finally become a reality. He said the home-grown e-Governance platform would make government work faster, cleaner and more accountable.
Bawale commended Governor Radda for his vision and support, noting that the system would improve efficiency through official email accounts, digital signatures, smart file handling, inter-agency communication and performance tracking. He urged Permanent Secretaries and Directors to lead the change by embracing the system and guiding their staff, assuring them of continued support from the Office of the Head of Service.
In his welcome address, the Rector of KSITM, Dr. Ahmad Musa Zayyad, said the new system would make government processes faster, more transparent and more secure. He praised the Governor for championing digital reforms and highlighted key interventions at KSITM, including staff recruitment, improved infrastructure, connection to the national grid, completion of hostels and training of over 1,800 civil servants in ICT.
Also speaking, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Technical Vocational Education, Dikko Bala Ably, who represented the Commissioner, Hon. Adnan Na Habu, described the commissioning as a major step toward modernising public service delivery. He said e-Governance would reduce bureaucracy, cut waste, improve accountability and bring government services closer to citizens.
He urged senior officials to embrace the reform, protect data privacy and promote inclusion to ensure that no citizen is left behind, adding that sustained collaboration among MDAs, the private sector and development partners would make e-Governance one of the enduring legacies of the Radda administration.
The event marked the formal beginning of Katsina State’s transition to a paperless, digitally driven public service aimed at improving efficiency and governance outcomes.
