EDO Launches State Integrated Financial Management Information System

By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin City

Edo State Government said it has concluded plan to acquire no fewer than 1000 computers for the use of all its ministries, departments and agencies in the state.

The State Governor, Godwin Obaseki made the disclosure during the launch of the Edo State Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS) in Benin-City on Friday.

Obaseki who added that 300 of the computer sets have already been acquired assured that the block C axis of the state secretariat would be completed before the end of the year.

He also added that there will be mandatory and voluntarily training for personnel of the state civil service while free writing materials will be made available for officers of level of 15 if need be for the training.

He assured that with the diligent implementation of the State Integrated Financial Management Information System there will be Internet and wireless services in all the MDAs in the state.

The state governor who opined that no institution can progress without the civil servant promised that by the end of his four year administration the use of manual files would be a thing of the past.

“By the end of my tenure we will no longer use manual files in the state civil service. All actions, activities and transactions will now be on online.

He however revealed that he has decided not to appoint commissioners or Advisers without the implementation of the Edo State Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS).

He noted that the launched of the Integrated Financial Management Information System was a revolution in driving the state civil service.

“With this system we will be able to know and manage the limited resource we have. I want this financial information system to be up and running before the end of the first quarters of this year.

“I do not want to hire commissioner or other political adviser if this system is not in place because I have been here over the last eight years and I knew some of the mistakes we made. So once you have a system anybody who comes in will key into the system and reduce the area of conflict”, he stated.

Earlier, Solomon Asapokhai of Financial and Technology and ORPPS limited and consultant to SIFMIS implementation (SEEFOR/World Bank Assisted Initiative) said the implementation of the programme was focus on business process enhancement, people and technology.