By Abbas Badmus,

In government offices across Nigeria, shelves lined with bulky files have long symbolised the machinery of public administration. But in a rapidly digitalising world, paper trails are giving way to data dashboards. At the forefront of this quiet transformation is the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which has taken a decisive step to modernise oversight operations at the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

Through a specialised digital capacity-building programme complete with the donation of 35 laptops, NITDA is helping the Commission transition from manual processes to a data-driven oversight model. The goal is clear: strengthen transparency, improve operational efficiency, and ensure more equitable representation across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The intervention forms part of NITDA’s broader Digital Literacy for All (DL4All) initiative, designed to strengthen digital capacity across public sector institutions. It also aligns with the reform priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has placed economic reform, inclusive growth, and improved governance at the centre of its Renewed Hope Agenda.

For the Federal Character Commission, whose constitutional mandate is to monitor and ensure equitable representation in public service appointments nationwide, data is not just administrative paperwork, it is the backbone of accountability. Every recruitment exercise, appointment, and institutional distribution must be tracked, analysed, and evaluated to ensure fairness across states and regions.

Representing the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Ahmed Yusuf Tambour, explained the rationale behind the initiative.

“We are here at the Federal Character Commission to carry out a training for staff of the Commission in the area of digital literacy to enhance their proficiency,” Tambour said.

He emphasised that the programme focused heavily on data analysis and data management, skills that directly align with the Commission’s statutory responsibilities. By equipping staff with the ability to manage, interpret, and present large datasets effectively, the agency aims to strengthen oversight functions and reduce reliance on outdated manual systems.

While training provides knowledge, tools enable practice. As part of the intervention, NITDA donated 35 laptops to the Commission, ensuring that the 35 trained participants can immediately apply their new skills.

The laptops are more than equipment; they represent a shift in workflow culture. With improved access to digital tools, staff members can seamlessly integrate data analytics into their daily operations—processing nationwide datasets more efficiently and improving the quality of reporting and decision-making.

According to Inuwa, the programme has been both impactful and well received. “It’s been a great journey. We’ve trained 35 participants here, and the training has been very well received,” he noted, expressing optimism that the initiative will significantly enhance the Commission’s ability to manage critical data collected across MDAs.

The transformation at the Federal Character Commission reflects a broader national ambition: building a modern public service driven by data, technology, and efficiency. As Nigeria seeks sustained economic growth and inclusive development, institutional effectiveness becomes paramount.

By strengthening digital literacy within government institutions, NITDA is not only improving technical capacity but also reshaping governance culture, encouraging evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and transparency.

The FCC’s shift toward a data-driven oversight model could serve as a template for other public institutions grappling with similar operational challenges. In an era where information is power, the ability to harness data responsibly and efficiently is essential for credible governance.

As Nigeria advances its digital transformation agenda, initiatives like this demonstrate that reform does not always require sweeping legislation or dramatic restructuring. Sometimes, meaningful change begins with equipping public servants with the skillsand the tools they need to do their jobs better.

And in the halls of the Federal Character Commission, the hum of new laptops may well signal the beginning of a more transparent and technology-enabled chapter in Nigeria’s public service story.

The post From Paper Files to Data Dashboards: How NITDA Is Powering Reform at Federal Character Commission appeared first on Tech Digest News.

In a fact sheet released by the agency, the FCC said drones could be exploited by “criminals, hostile foreign actors, and terrorists” to pose threats to national security. As a result, the commission updated its Covered List — which identifies products deemed to present unacceptable security risks — to include all unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and critical drone components manufactured outside the United States.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr welcomed the move, saying it followed a national security determination by the executive branch. He said the commission would work with domestic manufacturers to strengthen U.S. drone production, adding that foreign-made drones and related components pose unacceptable risks.

The decision is expected to significantly affect the global drone market, particularly Chinese manufacturer DJI, which dominates consumer drone sales in the United States. DJI said it was disappointed by the FCC’s action, noting that no details had been provided on the basis for the decision. The company said it remains committed to the U.S. market and maintains that its products are secure and have been reviewed by U.S. government agencies and independent bodies.

The ban builds on earlier efforts by the Trump administration to reduce reliance on foreign technology, including a June executive order aimed at boosting domestic drone manufacturing and securing the U.S. drone supply chain from foreign influence.

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TECHDIGEST – France slapped TikTok with 5 million euros ($5.4 million) for online tracking shortcomings.

A spokesperson for TikTok confirmed the fine in a statement on Friday.

The more widely used smartphone applications for the service were not included in the French data protection authority CNIL’s investigation, which primarily focused on the website tiktok.com.

The fine is coming barely after Seattle’s public school district filed a lawsuit against the major social media companies—TikTok and others.

READ ALSO: 2023 Polls: NITDA cautions journalists against fake news

“These findings relate to past practices that we addressed last year, including making it easier to reject non-essential cookies and providing additional information about the purposes of certain cookies,” a spokesperson for TikTok said.

The ByteDance-owned company is also in turmoil as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner Brendan Carr recently proposed the outright ban of Chinese-owned social media in the U.S.

The post France slaps TikTok with $5.4m fine appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – The United States of America is on the verge of banning the popular social media app, TikTok, and other apps that are based in or have links with China.

The move is predicated on security concerns that the Chinese government officials could gain access to American users’ data under Chinese law that could compel the company to hand over information. 

READ ALSO: U.S.-Africa Forum Partners Nigeria, Rwanda on Space Exploration

A new bill by U.S. lawmakers indicates that the impending ban is not only targeting Chinese apps but also “any social media company in, or under the influence of, China, Russia, and several other foreign countries of concern.”

Specifically, the bill is targeting TikTok which is owned by ByteDance.

Nairametrics understands that the company will remain the main target until the day it can be certified that it no longer poses as a security threat to the United States of America.

Earlier this year, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had written to Apple and Google requesting them to remove TikTok from their app stores. FCC Commissioner, Brendan Carr, accused TikTok of harvesting swaths of sensitive data that are being accessed in Beijing. 

The Commissioner alleged that TikTok is not just an app for sharing funny memes or videos but a “sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data.”  

ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, however, assured the U.S. regulator that it was not under the influence of the Chinese government, adding that Americans’ data are saved with the company. These assurances have, however, failed to douse the tension. 

 Source:Nairametric 

The post Why U.S wants to ban TikTok, other Chinese-linked apps appeared first on Tech Digest News.