The federal government has declared a breakthrough in its public sector reforms, announcing that Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service has effectively transitioned from paper-based operations to digital work processes, a shift expected to save billions of naira, curb corruption, and significantly improve service delivery.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, made the declaration in Abuja at the Paperless Civil Service Gala and Awards Night, describing the milestone as a defining moment in the reform history of the Service.
She noted that digitalisation has long been discussed but has been slow to materialise; it has now moved from concept to reality, positioning Nigeria’s civil service on a competitive footing with global public administrations that prioritise speed, transparency, and citizen trust.
According to her, “Countries that fail to digitise their public services are not just slow; they are increasingly irrelevant. Tonight, we are no longer talking about plans or pilots. Digitalisation is here, and it is working.”
She disclosed that a coordinated push under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25) has accelerated reforms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with all ministries represented at the event achieving full compliance by going live on the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS).
One of the most visible outcomes, she said, is the rollout of GOVMail, Nigeria’s secure government email platform, which now hosts over 100,000 official accounts, strengthening data sovereignty and saving the government huge sums previously spent on foreign email licences.
Beyond email communication, Walson-Jack said the Service has deployed a suite of digital tools to modernise governance, including a Service-wide GPT trained on the Constitution, Public Service Rules, and official circulars, which has already recorded over 25,000 user interactions. An online compendium of federal circulars has also ended the long-standing frustration of missing or conflicting directives across MDAs.
She explained that core management systems are also being overhauled, with the Performance Management System now automated in most ministries, while the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis is digitising workforce data to enable evidence-based recruitment, training, and deployment.
Tracing the reform journey, the Head of Service noted that the paperless drive dates back to 2017 under former Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and gained momentum during the tenure of Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, particularly after a 2020 directive mandating MDAs to digitise their registries following disruptions caused by COVID-19.
However, she admitted that when she assumed office in August 2024, only three ministries had fully digitised their processes, prompting the establishment of “War Rooms” under FCSSIP25 to fast-track results and enforce accountability.
“These were not rooms for speeches, but for execution. Excuses were retired, and results were demanded,” she said.
Walson-Jack stressed that all digital initiatives align with the Nigeria First Policy, prioritising locally developed solutions and Nigerian expertise to strengthen the economy while improving public service delivery.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, in his remarks, described the transition to paperless governance as a cultural and institutional shift rather than a mere technological upgrade.
He said the reform reflects efficiency over bureaucracy, transparency over opacity, and accountability over discretion, adding that it aligns fully with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Akume urged MDAs to institutionalise digital systems beyond personalities and sustain capacity building to ensure the reforms endure, noting that “the future of governance lies in systems, not shortcuts.”
The event also recognised MDAs and individuals who distinguished themselves in driving the digital transition, with government officials describing the awards as a signal that innovation and excellence in the civil service will be acknowledged and rewarded.
