Biometrics: We Captured 43,000 Civil Servants, Wike’s Aide Confirms

The just concluded biometric capture by the Rivers State Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department indicates that there are about 43,000 civil servants in the state public service.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on ICT, Mr. Ibifuro Asawo, gave the indication during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
He also disclosed that the recent registration of private schools by the state government shows that about 2,952 were captured in the state schools database.
Asawo while intimating of plans by the ICT Department to evolve a new state policy on ICT deployment in public service delivery, hinted that soon, the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration would create an automated system for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state government.
He assured that with the current tempo the Wike administration is driving ICT, by 2022, the state would be the digital hub of the Niger Delta.
Already, he noted that it has concluded integrated connection of the Judiciary, adding that in the next few months, the Ministry of Urban Development and Agriculture would be connected into state ICT database system.
He added, “By September, we will unveil a unified controlled system for agric products, producers and farmers.”
The essence of the policy, he explained, is to check duplicity and help government in decision making.
Asawo explained that, “Our plan is to have an ICT policy so we can have a functional data system. This will give room to fibre cables laid in the state.
“Even in our schools, our pupils will have basic digital skills,” Asawo emphasized.
Once that is achieved, the governor’s aide on ICT stated that the department plans to move down to the grassroots where it plans to cover the 23 local government areas.