DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA: RETHINKING ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY IN THE AGE OF E-GOVERNMENT

Abstract

The persistent crisis of public sector opacity and limited citizen oversight in Nigeria has heightened the demand for more transparent, responsive and accountable governance. Despite the promise of e-government platforms to revolutionize administrative operations, digital governance initiatives in Nigeria remain largely fragmented and underutilized. This study investigates how digital governance can enhance public accountability and reframe administrative transparency within the Nigerian public sector. Employing a documentary research design, the study draws evidence from official government publications, policy briefs, institutional reports, international development assessments, and scholarly literature on digital governance and accountability in Nigeria. The analysis is anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the New Public Management (NPM) theoretical framework to provide interpretive depth and contextual understanding. The findings reveal that although e-government initiatives have improved information accessibility and reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks, their potential is undermined by infrastructural gaps, resistance to innovation and weak institutional enforcement mechanisms. The study concludes that digital governance in Nigeria can foster real-time accountability only when complemented by strong legal frameworks and sustained digital literacy campaigns. It recommends a holistic policy reorientation that prioritizes integrated ICT deployment, user-centered administrative reforms, and the institutionalization of real-time performance monitoring tools.