PICTDA engages State Finance Officers on Digitalization and Automation through Plateau State Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (PLAGIFMIS)

The Plateau State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (PICTDA) in collaboration with the Office of the Account General of the State has interfaced with Finance Officers across Ministries Departments and Agencies on plans to automate financial dealings and transactions in the day-today running of government in the state through the Plateau State Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (PLAGIFMIS).

The event which held at the Victoria Gowon Hall, Government House, Little Rayfield Jos on Wednesday 22nd January 2025 had in attendance the Director General of PICTDA Engr Dominic Gwaman Datong, Honorable Commissioner of Finance Mrs Dongkum Grace Shwarta, Honorable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Hon Chrysantus Dawam, the Accountant General of the State Mrs Nanret Asabe Mangset, the Director Treasury Operations, Mr Ezekiel Dauda Daschen and Mr James O. James from Growth Stack.

Participants at the event include the include Directors of Fiance and Supply, Directors of Internal Audit and Cashiers and other critical finance officers of MDAs in the state who were given insights into automation and the need to embrace digitization, inline with the vision of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s e-Governance push with using PLAGIFMIS.

In her remarks, the Account General of the State, Mrs Nanret Asabe Mangset, commended PICDTA for the initiative, noting that there will be continuous engagements downline. She added that there will be continuous training and retraining of staff when the platform comes live.

Also speaking at the event, the Honorable Commissioner of Finance Mrs Dongkum Grace Shwarta stressed the importance of onboarding Plateau State onto automation, pointing out that Plateau State has a huge expert base even in finance but as a result for gap between the current operational practice in the state and automation, many are unable to tap into global opportunities. She debunked insinuations among public servants about possible job losses as a result of automation, stressing that automation will take anyone’s job but rather it will make everyone’s job easy, fast, effective, and more efficient.

Giving the vote of thanks at the end of ths event, the Director General of PICTDA Engr Dominic Gwaman Datong appreciated all participants for their rapt attention and sacrifice of time. He emphasized the need for everyone to join hands with the administration of Gov Caleb Mutfwang, especially the implementing agency PICDTA, to ensure that the process works out well.

There were paper presentations by some finance experts on topics such as ‘Automation & Impact on Financial Management’ by Mr Ezekiel Dauda Daschen, the Director Tresury Operations of the Ministry of Finance, ‘Benefits of Automation to users, Effciency, Transparency, accuracy and reduced paper work’ by Dr Yunana Arin, ‘Expected changes, key milestones and integration’ by Mr Bess S. Domkat, as well the project overview by James O. James . After a robust engagement, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarifications on the platform.