The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, has called on public institutions and organisations to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly while prioritising human accountability, digital skills development, and strong policy frameworks.
Speaking at the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held at Eagle Square, Inuwa, who was represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnership at NITDA, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, disclosed that the Agency has commenced the implementation of a comprehensive AI Transformation Plan aimed at repositioning the organisation for long-term institutional efficiency and continuity.
According to him, the three-year transformation initiative is designed to create a digitally driven institution where operations can continue seamlessly regardless of personnel changes.
“In NITDA as an agency, we have what we call the AI Transformation Plan. 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,” he said.
The NITDA DG explained that the Agency has already integrated AI into its internal workflow systems, particularly in document management and task tracking.
He revealed 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.
According to him, the AI infrastructure also tracks 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.
Addressing concerns over job displacement, Inuwa stressed that AI should be seen as a productivity-enhancing tool rather than a threat to human relevance in the workplace.
“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 stated.
He further disclosed that NITDA has commenced agency-wide AI capacity-building programmes for all staff members, adding that workers whose traditional roles are being transformed through automation are being reassigned into emerging AI-related positions.
“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 NITDA boss also underscored the importance of maintaining human oversight in AI deployment, warning against completely removing 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, he urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop internal AI policies capable of defining operational boundaries for the technology.
According to him, AI deployment within government institutions differs from private sector usage because public institutions must remain accountable for any AI-related failures or ethical breaches.
He emphasised 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.
Inuwa also highlighted NITDA’s broader efforts to deepen 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 noted that the Agency is currently using its internal systems as a practical AI sandbox to test implementation models before wider deployment across the public service ecosystem.
As part of efforts to strengthen 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.
