-Establishing National Digitalization and Modernization Initiative & New Technology Office
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has issued Executive Order No. 163, creating the National Digitalization and Modernization Initiative (NDMI) and establishing the Office of Technology, Digitalization and Innovation (OTDI) within the Office of the President.
The landmark order seeks to transform government service delivery across the Executive Branch by mandating secure, interoperable, and standards-based digital public services—reducing fragmentation, duplication, and waste while improving efficiency and transparency.
The NDMI will serve as a whole-of-government policy initiative to accelerate modernization of business processes, digitization of public services, secure data exchange, cybersecurity implementation, and consolidation of shared digital capabilities.
To lead this effort, OTDI will act as the central executive coordinating office for digital governance. The office will be headed by a Chief Technology, Digitalization and Innovation Officer (Chief Information Officer), appointed by the President.
“Effective and transparent delivery of public services requires coordinated modernization of government business processes and technology systems,” the Executive Order states, citing Article 50 of the Constitution as the basis for executive action.
Under the order, OTDI is designated as the Executive Branch’s enterprise architecture and interoperability standards authority. No ministry, agency, or commission (MAC) may initiate a major Digital Investment—including procurement, development, or system integration affecting cross-government interoperability or sensitive data—without first obtaining a Technical Clearance from OTDI. This clearance is limited to technical conformity and is not a procurement or budget approval.
A Digital Government Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, will provide high-level oversight. Members include the Ministries of Posts and Telecommunications, Finance and Development Planning, Justice, and the Liberia Revenue Authority.
The order explicitly respects constitutional privacy protections under Article 16, requiring written data-sharing agreements that address purpose limitation, access controls, logging, and accountability. It also mandates a “do-no-harm” principle, minimizing collection and duplication of personal data.
Crucially, the order does not amend any statute, nor does it diminish statutory powers of existing entities. OTDI cannot direct procurement decisions of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, and autonomous institutions such as the Central Bank of Liberia and the Liberia Revenue Authority retain their functional independence. Where any provision conflicts with an Act of the Legislature, the Act prevails.
OTDI will issue government-wide baseline cybersecurity requirements—including identity management, logging, backup, vulnerability management, and incident response—in coordination with the Ministries of Posts and Telecommunications and Justice. The office will also develop a Government Enterprise Architecture Framework, an Interoperability Framework, and a public inventory of major government digital systems.
· Within 60 days: Every MAC must submit a baseline inventory of its major digital systems and active digital investments to OTDI.
· Within 180 days: OTDI must deliver an implementation roadmap, first releases of the enterprise architecture and interoperability frameworks, and a proposed list of shared digital platforms.
· Within 12 months: OTDI, through the Minister of Justice, must submit draft legislation—including a proposed Digital Government Act—to institutionalize reforms on a statutory basis.
The Executive Order takes effect immediately and remains in force for one year, during which the government will pursue legislative enactment for permanent governance reforms. Implementation depends on the availability of appropriated funds; no commitments may be made contrary to law.
“If any provision of this Executive Order is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect,” the order notes, including a standard severability clause. A review report is due to the President no later than 60 days before expiration, recommending extension, replacement, or transition into a statutory framework. President Boakai signed the order on April 22, 2026, in Monrovia.
