FG’s new website is for good Governance – SGF

The Federal Government’s upgraded website www.osgf.gov.ng, which cost N64 million is now live, according to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Muatapha, during the launching on Monday in his conference room in Abuja.

The SGF said with the launch, the old website which he said was based on an old technology that had limited features, lacked security features and was not compliant to the Executive Order 001, among other restrictions will now be rested.

According to him, the website is about bringing governance to the people and getting them involved in the process.

Mustapha said the upgraded website has a number of components that will add value to information disseminated to public.

He said the major component of the website is the revamped e-participation platform that allows members of the public to give feedback on policies as well as submit ideas.

Through this platform, Mustapha said members of the public would be free to request for information from government, submit ideas, and lodge complaints.

He explained that such requests, ideas or complaints, would elicit timely response from government.

Mustapha said if the nation  is to attract investment, information which is important should be available with ease at a touch of a button.

The SGF said the amount expanded involves training of 50 officers that will facilitate timely updates and ensure very robust content management system, procurement of laptops as well as consultancy services.

The Federal Government had allocated N65m for the project in the 2017 Budget.

“There was a contract in 2017. The figure in public domain. It is about N64m including procurement of laptops, training, consultancy services.

“The contract was awarded by the Bureau of Public Procurement in accordance with the Procurement Act,” Mustapha said when he was asked the cost of the upgrade.

The SGF explained that the desire of his office to operate a functional website that will deliver information and policy thrust of the present administration formed the decision to upgrade the old website.

He said arrangements were being concluded to train officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies who will be handling the different segments of the website.

The Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the SGF, Mr. Olusegun Adekunle, said the decision to upgrade the website was taken so that it can serve better.

He said the upgrade would add value to dissemination of information of government activities.

He added that each of the six offices in the SGF’s office will have content managers before they can upload content.

He said there was plan to train initial 50 officers for the six offices.