OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

This study explored the barriers to digital transformation in public institutions, focusing on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State, Nigeria. This study aims to discover the key challenges hampering the adoption of digital systems in managing traffic and ensuring road safety. This study, therefore, draws on a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data, to explore the impact of such variables as inadequate funding, lack of strategic vision, staff resistance, and public non-compliance with traffic regulations. In the quantitative analysis, senior FRSC staff were surveyed on the significant obstacles to digital adoption. In-depth interviews provided qualitative insights into the challenges that needed to be understood contextually, along with possible remedies. Findings show barriers to effective digital transformation, unsatisfactory budget allocation, the fear of job loss, and a need for a clear strategic way forward. However, the study also identifies how to overcome these challenges, such as poor infrastructure, limited digital skills, policy gaps, inadequate funding, and cybersecurity risks. The study's practical implications reveal that policy- and leadership-level attention to the financing, cybersecurity, and public awareness is indispensable to making digital transformation a complete reality. The research adds to the growing literature on digital transformation within public sector institutions. Digital transformation adoption offers actionable recommendations for enhancing service delivery and road safety.