Inuwa Calls for Responsible AI Adoption

Inside the bustling halls of the Eagles Square in Abuja, the International Civil Service Conference 2026 was underway, alive with discussions about the future of governance.

When it was time for the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to take the stage, the message wasn’t just about adopting new software; it was a profound call to reshape how public institutions operate.

Speaking through Kashifu Inuwa, the director general of NITDA issued a vital challenge to the assembly: public institutions must embrace Artificial Intelligence, but they must do so responsibly.

True digital transformation, he argued, cannot exist without anchoring it in human accountability, robust policy frameworks, and continuous digital skills development.

To prove that this was not merely theoretical, Inuwa, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, the director of Stakeholder Management and Partnership at NITDA, pulled back the curtain on the Agency’s internal AI revolution.

The agency has already set in motion a comprehensive, three-year AI Transformation Plan designed to ensure long-term institutional efficiency, continuity, and productivity.

The strategy addresses one of the oldest vulnerabilities in public administration: the institutional brain drain that happens when personnel change.

“In NITDA as an agency, we have what we call the AI Transformation Plan,” Inuwa stated, his words underscoring a vision of an unshakeable, digitally driven institution. “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.”

Through this initiative, NITDA is sketching the blueprint for the future of the Nigerian civil service, one where artificial intelligence acts as the permanent, seamless memory of an organization, keeping the wheels of governance turning smoothly no matter who holds the wheel.

The DG explained that the Agency has already integrated AI into its internal workflow processes, particularly in document management and task tracking.

He noted that official documents submitted at the Agency’s premises are now scanned immediately at the gate and automatically routed by AI systems to the responsible officers based on identified keywords and subject areas.

He added that the AI infrastructure also monitors timelines and flags delays where officers fail to attend to official correspondence within stipulated periods.

“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 explained.

While acknowledging concerns surrounding AI adoption, particularly fears about job displacement, the NITDA DG stressed that the technology should be viewed as a tool for improving productivity rather than a threat to human relevance.

“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 said.

To address workforce transition concerns, he revealed that NITDA has commenced agency-wide AI capacity building programmes for all staff members.

According to him, employees whose traditional roles are being transformed by automation are being reassigned and redesignated into emerging AI-related functions.

“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 noted.

The DG further emphasised the importance of maintaining human oversight in AI deployment, warning against the complete removal of human intelligence and 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.

Speaking on governance and regulation, the NITDA boss called for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop internal AI policies capable of defining clear operational boundaries for the technology.

According to him, government deployment of AI differs significantly from private sector usage because public institutions must bear responsibility for any AI-related failures or ethical breaches.

He stressed the need for robust governance frameworks to guide responsible AI use, protect citizens’ rights, and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

“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 DG also highlighted the Agency’s broader efforts to drive national AI adoption following the development of Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, which he described as one of the country’s most forward-looking digital policy documents.

He stated that NITDA is currently using the Agency as a practical AI sandbox to test implementation models before wider deployment across the public service ecosystem.

As part of efforts to deepen digital capacity across government institutions, he disclosed that NITDA is collaborating with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to train civil servants in digital literacy and AI-related competencies.

He reiterated that the future workforce must embrace continuous learning and adaptability to remain relevant in an increasingly AI-driven world.

“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.

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