From Peter VANDE, – Makurdi

The Benue State Government has launched Benue State E-Parliament System platform, a move that is aimed at digitizing laws and processes of law-making; formally introducing a paperless parliament in the State House of Assembly.

The development is expected to bring about the enablement of a virtual parliamentary system and also take a leap forward into smart governance and citizen participation in law-making.

The programme which was organised by the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company, BDIC, and launched during a breakfast meeting with the lawmakers, is titled “Legislating in the Digital Age.”

According to the Managing Director/CEO, BDIC, Plc, Terwase Gbande-Hembaor, said the system was developed by BDIC in line with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s vision for a Digital Benue.

He said, the initiative aims to equip lawmakers with the necessary skills and resources to leverage the digital platform, enhancing their productivity and efficiency in lawmaking.

Gbande also stated that plans are underway to provide members with working tools and capacity training to enable them effectively utilize the E-Parliament system.

The MD of BDIC, maintained that it is currently working with the Speaker to digitalize all the laws made by the Assembly since creation to enable people have access to them.

Members of the House, who were led by the Speaker, BNHA, Aondona Dajoh, urged the lawmakers to work together to ensure that the launch of the platform serves as a model for digital governance, inspire other states and institutions to follow.

He emphasized the importance of remaining committed to the principles of accountability, transparency, and citizen engagement, which are essential in serving the people who elected them.

Dajoh, observed that the launch of the initiative was the first of it’s kind in the North Central, assuring that he would speak with other Houses of Assembly in Nigeria on the need to replicate same in their states.

On his part, the House Committee chairman on ICT and Digital Economy, Kennedy Angbo, noted that the essence of the launch was to have an inclusive Governance and allow people participate in the process of legislation.

He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Governor Hyacinth Alia for his visionary leadership and unwavering support, which enabled the Benue E-Parliament project to come to fruition.

Angbo commended the Governor’s commitment to digital transformation and innovation, as well as his trust in the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company, BDIC and the Ministry of Digital Economy to drive the initiative forward.

The Majority Leader, BNHA, Saater Tiseer and Michael Audu, pledged their support to the success of the project, pointing out that embracing digital governance and upholding the values, the House of Assembly can set a new standard for effective and responsive lawmaking.

Meanwhile, BDIC, has trained seven Directors and 29 Committee Secretaries in the Benue Assembly, to drive the process of eParliament and eConferencing for lawmakers the House.

The MD/CEO, BDIC, Terwase Gbande-Hembaor, pointed out that the successes of e-parliament platform, depends on the competence of the participants, hence the training of the Directors and Committee Secretaries, who are the “procedural backbone of the lawmakers”, and were central to the legislative processes.

The MD, who stressed that the participants would have to master the processes in order to deliver on their mandate, said, “Through this training, you will master the use of the eParliament and eConferencing tools; learn how to manage and share legislative documents digitally; acquire skills for hosting and participating in secure online committee sessions and understand best practices for digital record-keeping and data security.

The Clerk of the Assembly, John Hwande, who declared the workshop open, noted that private and public businesses have become easier and less time-consuming with the use of relevant gadgets.

Hwande, explained that although the journey began with the training of legislators, “As drivers of the process, the training is intended to equip you (Directors and Committee Secretaries) with the needed skills to operate an e-parliament.”

Therefore, he commended the Company for its efforts to digitalise the Public Service in the state, particularly, BNHA, just as he charged the participants to embrace the training so that they would be able to deliver.

In his contribution, Kennedy Angbo, who is the House Committee Chairman on ICT and Digital Economy, argued that the initiative of entrenching e-parliament for the lawmakers would position the Assembly as the reference point in smart, cost effective and public-driven, law-making in the nation.

Angbo, who was represented at the event by the Secretary of the Committee, Peter Igbo, said, the Assembly was looking forward to more collaborations with BIDC, to avail its staff with more training opportunities, and provision of equipment and facilities among other benefits.

The e-Parliament represents the digital transformation of the legislative processes of the House, through modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to enhance transparency, efficiency, accessibility, and citizen engagement in law-making.

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