New digital laws to transform govt system

The National Business

THE Digital Government Act 2022 tabled in Parliament in April is expected to transform the public service, says Information Communication Technology Minister Timothy Masiu.
He told the Digital transformation officers’ workshop yesterday that the legislation set up essential governance frameworks. They include the:

  • PROVISIONING of officers in the public service to deliver digital transformation in each public body;
  • ESTABLISHMENT of the Public Service ICT steering committee to coordinate it;
  • ESTABLISHMENT of the Public Service ICT audit committee to oversee the commissioning and enforcement of ICT audit activities.

The act also established:

  • A National Cyber Security Centre to monitor, secure, prevent, and investigate cyber threats across all of our critical digital infrastructures;
  • A private government cloud and network for secure storage and transmission of data and services;
  • A Central e-Government Portal to serve as a one-stop-shop for all of government services to Government, Businesses, and our People; and
  • THE use of shared services across all public service.

The legislation ensures that government systems can be streamlined to facilitate open and closed API frameworks and how data should be collected, stored, and shared.