Electronic Governance and Administrative Efficiency in the Nigerian Public Service: A Qualitative Review of Digital Governance Reforms

Electronic governance (e-governance) has become a central strategy for improving administrative efficiency, transparency, accountability, and public service delivery worldwide. In Nigeria, several digital governance reforms, including the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), electronic tax administration, and digital identity management, have been introduced to modernize public administration and enhance government performance. Despite these initiatives, administrative inefficiency, bureaucratic delays, fragmented information systems, and institutional weaknesses remain significant challenges. This study qualitatively reviews the impact of electronic governance on administrative efficiency in the Nigerian public service. Guided by the New Public Management (NPM) theory, the study relies on documentary evidence drawn from peer-reviewed literature, government policy documents, institutional reports, and publications from international organizations. The findings indicate that e-governance has improved financial management, service delivery, transparency, accountability, and administrative coordination in several public institutions. However, the effectiveness of these reforms is constrained by inadequate ICT infrastructure, unreliable electricity supply, limited digital literacy, poor inter-agency interoperability, cybersecurity concerns, weak institutional capacity, and resistance to organizational change. The study concludes that while electronic governance has significant potential to improve administrative efficiency, sustainable outcomes require complementary institutional reforms, continuous investment in digital infrastructure, stronger governance frameworks, and human capacity development. It recommends expanding ICT infrastructure, integrating government information systems, strengthening cybersecurity, enhancing digital skills among public servants, and institutionalizing effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to sustain digital transformation in the Nigerian public service