The National Information Technology Development Agency has called on public institutions and organisations across Nigeria to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly while prioritising human accountability, governance frameworks, and digital skills development.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call during the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held at Eagle Square. He was represented at the event by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnership, Dr. Aristotle Onumo.
According to the NITDA boss, the agency has already begun implementing a comprehensive three-year AI Transformation Plan aimed at repositioning the organisation for long-term efficiency, continuity, and productivity.
“In NITDA as an agency, we have what we call the AI Transformation Plan. It is a kind of three-year plan which we have put in place so that even if the current staff are replaced completely, new personnel should be able to interact with the system and continue work without hindrance,” he stated.
He explained that NITDA has already integrated AI into several internal workflow processes, particularly document management and task monitoring systems.
According to him, official documents submitted at the agency are now scanned immediately upon arrival and automatically routed by AI systems to relevant officers based on keywords and subject classifications.
The system, he added, also monitors timelines and flags delays whenever official correspondence is not treated within approved timeframes.
“All that is required now is to drop documents at the gate. AI scans and routes them to the appropriate officers. If such documents are not treated within the required timeframe, the system flags them and reports accordingly,” he said.
Speaking on concerns surrounding AI adoption, particularly fears about job losses, the NITDA DG argued that artificial intelligence should be viewed as a productivity tool rather than a replacement for human workers.
“There is always this fear that AI is coming to take away jobs, especially in the public service. But I want to state clearly that the jobs of people who refuse to upskill themselves may eventually be affected. However, those willing to retrain and adapt will benefit immensely from AI,” he noted.
He disclosed that NITDA has already commenced agency-wide AI training programmes for staff, with employees previously handling manual operations now redesignated into emerging AI-related functions such as AI assistants and AI administrators.
“We have ensured that everyone undergoes AI training. Those who previously handled manual file operations have now been redesignated as AI assistants and AI administrators. We are preparing our workforce for the future rather than replacing them,” he added.
The DG also stressed the importance of maintaining human oversight in AI deployment, warning against removing accountability from governance systems.
“You must not take away human monitoring and accountability in any AI implementation process. At the end of the day, someone must remain accountable,” he cautioned.
On regulation and governance, he urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies to establish internal AI policies capable of defining clear operational boundaries for artificial intelligence deployment.
According to him, public sector use of AI requires stronger governance structures because government institutions remain accountable for ethical failures, data misuse, and operational risks linked to the technology.
“We must ensure that whatever we use AI for aligns with data protection regulations and responsible use principles. Without proper frameworks, data misuse could become more prevalent and destructive,” he warned.
The NITDA boss further disclosed that the agency is currently using itself as a practical AI sandbox to test implementation models ahead of broader deployment across the Nigerian public service ecosystem.
He added that NITDA is collaborating with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to strengthen digital literacy and AI-related competencies among civil servants nationwide.
“AI has not come to replace people completely. But those who refuse to develop their skills may struggle to fit into the evolving technology ecosystem,” he concluded.
