FG Addresses AI Job Displacement Concerns in Public Service

During the 2026 International Civil Service Conference held in Abuja, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), addressed concerns regarding the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their potential to displace jobs in the public service sector. Inuwa clarified that AI should be viewed as a tool for advancement rather than a threat to human employment.

He emphasized the need for public servants to upskill and adapt to the evolving technological landscape, stating that while AI may transform traditional roles, it will not completely replace workers. NITDA is initiating an agency-wide AI capacity-building program aimed at retraining staff whose roles are being transformed by automation.

Inuwa also stressed the importance of maintaining human oversight in AI deployment and urged government ministries and agencies to develop internal AI policies that clearly define operational boundaries for technology use.