The Leadership Imperative for Digital Governance Reforms in Nigeria

• In Event: Panel 2: Policy Innovation for a Changing Environment

Abstract

The integration of digitization into public service reforms has become a common feature across states to enhance service delivery and improve internal work processes. Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Service Reforms, the agency responsible for the design and implementation of public sector reforms in Nigeria, has also introduced reforms within the public service that integrate the globally competitive process of digital transformation in the Nigerian public service. Despite these reform efforts, inefficiencies persist, laying bare the gap between the intended reform objectives and outcomes. While digital governance presents a viable pathway to address these challenges, its implementation necessitates strategic leadership to navigate institutional barriers. Focusing on the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), this study examines how leadership facilitates the transition to digital governance, identifying the key strategies and challenges in reform execution. Grounded in transformational leadership and institutional theories. the research employed qualitative methods, conducting six Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with senior officials at the FRSC headquarters in Abuja, including a former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive (COMASE) who spearheaded the agency’s digital transformation, alongside representatives from specialized units such as the Information Technology Centre (ITC), National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS), Road Traffic Crash Information System (RTCIS), Information Verification Portal (IVP) and the Emergency Call Centre (ECC). Findings show that leadership-driven strategies—including incremental implementation model, staff incentive, and inclusive leadership—facilitated the FRSC’s transition toward digital governance. Nonetheless, internal resistance, among other challenges, revealed the tensions between innovation and institutional inertia.
Keywords: Digital Governance, Public Service Reforms, Federal Road Safety Commission, Leadership, Nigeria

Author

• Leke Abraham Oluwalogbon, Department of Political Science, Redeemer's University, Nigeria