ICT Deployment in Governance: A Potent Enabler of Accountability, Reliability and Transparency (ART) of Government Business

The main business of any governments irrespective of the tier or arm in focus should be to provide a stable political and economic environment. Government policies throughout the world should aim to promote fiscal responsibility, remove barriers to competition, ensure a framework for good governance, and ensure accountability, reliability, and transparency of functions. Where the required framework to support the attainability and sustainability of a “good” governance is lacking, the result is system plagued with numerous corrupt practices resulting in lawlessness, intense poverty, high unemployment rate, inequalities and lack of justice, etc. This paper unveils the role of ICT in driving accountability, reliability and transparency of government business in an electronic environment (e-government) by investigating the presence of indexes of good governance, the role of e-government for the overall reform and transformation of government business, and the long run impact on stimulating a knowledge-based society. The paper investigates the benefits accrued from ICT and e-government implementation. Further, the research adopts quantitative (hypothetic deductive) methodology, which design administered a survey instrument in the form of a questionnaire. The results of the quantitative analysis were discussed and interpreted in relation to the key issues of the research. Result validates that ICT or e-Government as a major pillar of the governance in driving accountability, reliability and transparency among public servants and institutions in Nigeria. The outcome of this study will be a useful guide to the government of Nigeria on some relevant implementation strategies and policy or regulatory needs, as well as the general public on how e-Governance can play a critical role in the sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy, as well as fight against anti-corruption war.