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Nigeria’s Use of Digital Technology to Improve its Politics Rated as “Improving”
By Joel Popoola
A study into Nigeria’s progress towards becoming Africa’s first digital democracy has ranked our nation’s use of digital technology to enhance our political system as “improving”.
The first Digital Democracy Dashboard, conducted by the campaign I lead, analyses African nation’s efforts in using information and communication technology to improve their political and governance processes.
The dashboard gives nations scores out of five in four categories, leading to an overall score out of 20, corresponding to the following rankings.
Emerging – 0-7
Improving 7-15
Arriving 15-20
As 2020 draws to a close Nigeria has been given a score of 11/20 and rated as “Improving”.
The study rates nations against four benchmarks – digital transparency, equal access to the internet, political engagement and modern and robust electoral systems.
Nigeria has been evaluated as follows.
Digital transparency – 3
During the Covid-19 lockdown the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, piloted digital payments to get money to people who needed it.
Using digital technology to distribute these funds isn’t just faster and safer in a time of social distancing it also makes it much easier to see where it has gone, make sure it has arrived, and ensure that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
It is clear that good progress is being made towards achieving this benchmark.
Equal access to the internet – 2
Nigeria has still to achieve significant 4G penetration. Government projections state that by 2025 only 70% of Nigerians will have any sort of internet.
The Nigerian government was also unwilling to respond to calls to give Nigerian children data free access to educational resources to help them catch up on education lost as a result of COVID-19.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami has announced government ambitions for a 40% cut in data prices by 2025.
Progress continues to be slow towards achieving equal access to the internet for all Nigerians.
Political Engagement – 2
Nigerian citizens have led the world in using social media to build relationships, build trust and to communicate internationally, as demonstrated in the #EndSARS protests.
Nigerian politicians however continue to fail to seize the potential of social media to truly engage with voters as equals, treating social media as a purely broadcast medium instead of using the platforms to reach out to voters on a personal basis.
Much online political dialogue remains antagonistic in nature.
It is unclear how much progress is being made on achieving this benchmark.
Modern and robust voting systems – 2
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that it intends to “pilot the use of Electronic Voting Machines at the earliest possible time… (and) work towards the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.”
Using electronic voting machines, Nigerian voters can have much more confidence that the vote really was cast for their candidate they intended to vote for – or has been counted at all. Ballot-stuffing could also become a thing of the past under a truly transparent system where every vote can be electronically accounted for.
It is clear that some progress is being made towards achieving this benchmark.
At the digital democracy campaign I lead, we are aiming to harness the potential of digital technology to improve political engagement and processes across Africa.
We have developed a free app called Rate Your Leader to help local leaders engage directly, on a one-to-one basis, with verified local voters, letting decision makers show themselves to be accessible, accountable and responsive to the people who decide whether or not they’ll have a job after the next election. Rate Your Leader also allows local representatives to get a real-time insight into the things that matter most to the people who elect them – and how to address them.
Rate Your Leader also lets local people get their voices heard by putting them in direct contact with local decision makers.
Our app is also abuse-proof, making uncivil or aggressive communication impossible.
Communication between the authorities and the public has never been more critical. We are a nation in recession, with many months – or years – before vaccination against the coronavirus becomes widespread.
Positive progress had been made in 2020 – in spite of everything – to make Nigeria Africa’s first truly digital democracy. But this work will have to accelerate in 2021 if our nation if to achieve its colossal potential.
Joel Popoola is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, digital democracy campaigner and creator of the free Rate Your Leader mobile app. You can follow Joel on Twitter @JOPopoola
The All Progressives Congress has expelled a former Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities.
Aregbesola, who led Osun State for two terms, had spearheaded a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives which was later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus.
A letter from the APC leadership seen by newsmen on Wednesday officially confirmed Aregbesola’s expulsion.
The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” accused him of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which outlines disciplinary measures for members.
The letter read in part, “At the end of the investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee. Having carefully reviewed the findings and recommendations, the SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC.
“The decision was predicated on clear evidence of your actions, which undermined the unity and integrity of the party. As a result, you are no longer a member of the APC and must refrain from holding yourself out as one or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.”
The former minister’s expulsion followed a Sunday meeting of the Omoluabi Caucus, presided over by Aregbesola, where the group announced its decision to exit the APC, citing the party’s waning influence in Osun.
Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has vehemently opposed the establishment of Sharia Court in the State, declaring it unauthorized and illegal.
He, therefore, directed the individuals behind its creation to immediately cease operations and disband all related activities.
The governor’s response followed the circulation of a flyer announcing the launch of a Sharia Court in Ogun State by the Sharia Arbitration Committee.
The flyer stated: “Alhamdulillah, it’s eventually established in Ogun State. A Sharia Court, which Ogun State Muslims have been yearning for, for ages, is finally here.”
It further invited litigants, stating: “You can now seek redress or have your case adjudicated based on Qur’an and Sunnah by reputable Islamic jurists. The Shari’ah Court, under the able leadership of eminent, reputable and erudite Islamic scholars like Shaykh Dr. Khidri Mustafa – Grand Qadi, Shaykh Abdu-r-Rasheed Mayeleke, Dr. Musa Afis, and a host of competent Islamic jurists, is open to all Muslims, male and female.”
It also listed the types of cases the court would handle, including marital disputes, Imamship tussles, organizational conflicts, child custody and guardianship, and inheritance matters.
Reacting to this development, Governor Abiodun issued a personally signed statement, making it clear that the legal framework of Ogun State does not recognize Sharia Court.
“No Sharia Court is authorised to operate within Ogun State. The courts that are legally empowered to adjudicate disputes arising within Ogun State are those established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by state laws, which are: Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.”
The governor emphasized that Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework of Ogun State and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.
“No law operating in Ogun State has established a Sharia Court, and Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework by which the Ogun State Government administers and governs society,” he declared.
While recognizing the freedom of individuals to practice their religion, the governor stressed that this does not extend to creating unauthorized courts.
“No individual or group is legally permitted to constitute a court or present themselves to the public as a court without legal backing,” he warned.
Governor Abiodun then ordered the immediate cessation of all activities related to the illegal Sharia Court, stating:
“The Ogun State Government, hereby, directs that all persons involved in the creation or operation of this unauthorised court must immediately cease all related activities and disband the illegal entity and all its apparatus.”
He further warned the public against engaging with the court, urging them to report any related activities to the authorities.
“The Ogun State Government also advises members of the public to disregard any summons, documents, or persons associated with the illegal Sharia Court. Such occurrences should be promptly reported to the State.”
The controversy surrounding the establishment of Sharia Courts in the Southwest has been growing. Just last week, the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji, similarly rejected the creation of a Sharia Court in his state, calling it illegal.
In December last year, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria announced plans to inaugurate a Sharia Court in Oyo town, Oyo State. However, following public outcry, the council postponed the inauguration indefinitely.
Commenting on the issue, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said Sharia Courts would only be permitted if they align with the Nigerian Constitution.
“People may try, but for us, I swore to uphold our laws and the Constitution of Nigeria. If their actions are within the law, fine. If not, they should expect that I will insist the law must be followed,” Makinde stated.
On Monday, Afenifere and CAN publicly rejected the idea, while the International Council for Ifa Religion also voiced its disapproval.
The council’s President, Fayemi Fatunde, warned that the introduction of Sharia law in the Southwest could have hidden motives.
“We have witnessed the consequences of Sharia law in the northern parts of Nigeria. The introduction of Sharia law to the South-West has a hidden agenda of Islamisation, contrary to the narrative being presented,” Fatunde argued.
As the debate over Sharia Courts in the South West continues, the Ogun State Government has made its stance clear—only courts recognized by the Nigerian Constitution will be permitted in the state. With similar resistance in Ekiti, Oyo, and other states, the issue remains a subject of intense national debate.
The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has debunked reports about an ongoing recruitment in the Commission, saying it is not true.
The Public Relations Officer of the FCSC, Mr. Taiwo Hassan, quoting the Chairman Tunji Olaopa on Monday night, clarified that there is no fresh recruitment currently going on at the commission.
“The attention of the FCSC has been drawn to information making the rounds on various media platforms about advertised vacancies and recruitments in the commission.
“The commission unequivocally declares that the information containing the commission’s website and the name of the Director (Recruitment and Appointment) did not emanate from the commission.
“It is fictitious and should be disregarded,” Hassan said.
He warned members of the public to be wary of activities of fake recruitment syndicates and racketeers.
He said the commission would officially announce to the public on national dallies and through its website whenever such recruitment exercise commenced.
