EFFECT OF DIGITAL LITERACY ON PUBLIC ACCESS TO E-GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract This study examined the effect of digital literacy on public access to e-government services in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The growth of the use of digital technologies in government has offered new avenues through which citizens access the government institutions online. Nevertheless, low digital literacy rates of citizens can become a barrier to the successful use of these services. This research in particular examined how digital literacy affected access to e-recruitment opportunities, Tax Identification Number (TIN) registration and enrollment in government empowerment schemes among the citizens of Bayelsa State. The research chose a quantitative survey study design. The target population was the residents aged 18 years and above in Bayelsa State and assumed to be about 2.5 million in 2026. Sampling was done using a multi-stage sampling approach to sample 388 respondents in the state that were selected in the Local Government Areas and wards. Likert-scale responses on digital literacy and access to e-government services were designed based on a structured questionnaire, which was used to gather data on demographic characteristics. The instrument was tested by the expert and a reliability testing gave a Cronbachs Alpha of 0.81, which is acceptable internal consistency. Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were the descriptive statistics that were applied to analyze data collected and Pearson correlation analysis to test the hypotheses. The results have indicated that digital literacy affects the capacity of citizens to access and use e-government services significantly especially in e-recruitment, TIN registration and attending government empowerment initiatives. The research concluded that the effectiveness and inclusivity of e-government programs in the Bayelsa State should be enhanced by first improving the level of digital literacy among citizens of the state. The study thus proposes that the digital literacy training programs, internet penetration, and creation of easy-to-use digital channels should be implemented to enhance the access of the population to government services.