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  • Federal Civil Service completes historic shift to digital operations

    Federal Civil Service completes historic shift to digital operations

    Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service has officially completed its transition to a fully paperless system, a historic milestone in public sector reform.

    ‎The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced on Wednesday that all 38 federal Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments (MEMDs) became paperless at the close of business on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in line with presidential and administrative directives.

    ‎Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Walson-Jack described the achievement as a major step toward a modern, accountable, and digitally enabled civil service.

    ‎She noted that the reform builds on a multi-year digitalisation journey that began in 2017 under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), which introduced the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system.

    ‎The initiative was expanded under FCSSIP 2021–2025, focusing on digital workflows, decision tracking, and service delivery.

    ‎When she assumed office in August 2024, only three MEMDs had partial paperless operations.

    ‎That number has now risen to 38, including 33 ministries and five key extra-ministerial departments, such as the State House, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the Federal Civil Service Commission, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    ‎A significant part of the reform was the expansion of official government email accounts.

    ‎Walson-Jack revealed that fewer than 20,000 email addresses existed for civil servants in August 2024. Today, over 100,000 GovMail accounts have been issued, enabling secure, auditable communication across the service and saving billions of naira annually.

    ‎The HoS also announced that all MEMDs will no longer accept paper submissions through physical registries. Citizens can now submit scanned documents via email and track their correspondence using the newly launched Federal Civil Service Paperless Portal.

    ‎“This milestone ensures faster response times, better transparency, and a more reliable audit trail for government correspondenc. This reform aligns with Nigeria’s national development priorities and global best practices,” she said.

    ‎Walson-Jack commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, for ensuring whole-of-government alignment. She also recognised ministers, permanent secretaries, civil servants, and key partners, including the National Information Technology Development Agency and Galaxy Backbone Limited, for their roles in achieving the December 31 deadline.

    ‎She expressed confidence that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service will sustain the reform through ongoing training, post-implementation optimisation, compliance monitoring, and cybersecurity enhancement, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

  • FG records breakthrough as federal civil service goes paperless, saves billions

    FG records breakthrough as federal civil service goes paperless, saves billions

    ‎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.

  • Federal civil service goes paperless December

    Federal civil service goes paperless December

    The Federal Government has announced that the civil service will become fully paperless by December 2025.

    Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi  Walson-Jack, made the announcement at a news conference to commemorate the 2025 African Public Service Day and Civil Service Week in Abuja yesterday.

      Walson-Jack said the move was in line with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which is programmed to end this year.

    She also restated the Federal Government’s commitment to building a world-class public service.

    Read Also: Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation hails new Head of Federal Civil Service

    The Civil Service boss explained that digitalisation is a major pillar of the reform plan and that the government was committed to accelerating its implementation across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

    According to her, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has already achieved a paperless operation and is working to support all MDAs to reach the same milestone.

  • Federal Civil Service to go paperless by December 2025, says FG

    Federal Civil Service to go paperless by December 2025, says FG

    The federal government has announced that the Nigerian Civil Service will become fully paperless by December 2025.

    Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced this at a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday to commemorate the 2025 African Public Service Day and Civil Service Week.

    Speaking at the event, Dr. Walson-Jack said the move is in line with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which is set to conclude at the end of the year.

    She explained that digitalisation is a major pillar of the reform plan, and the government is committed to accelerating its implementation across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

    According to her, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has already achieved a paperless operation and is working to support other MDAs to reach the same milestone.

    “Even before I assumed office, the OHCSF had already gone paperless. We are now working to accelerate this transformation across all MDAs.

    “Just last week, I was at the Federal Ministry of Health to launch their Enterprise Content Management Systems (ECMS), making them the 11th ministry to go paperless. The rest are at varying stages of implementation.

    “We have engaged partners to help fund digital transitions in some of the ministries. The race to December 31, 2025, is on, and with hard work and God’s grace, the Nigerian Civil Service will be fully paperless by December 31, 2025,” she declared.

    Walson-Jack further outlined the activities scheduled to mark the 2025 African Public Service Day and Civil Service Week.

    She recalled that the African Public Service Day was adopted in 1994 at the Pan-African Conference of Ministers in Tangier, Morocco, and is celebrated annually on June 23 across the continent.

    She said Nigeria observes the event with a week-long celebration to honour public service values, promote excellence, and advance reform efforts in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

    Dr. Walson-Jack described the Civil Service Week, which will run from June 20 to 28, as a time to reflect on the progress of reforms and celebrate achievements within the public service.

    She said the programme of events will include the commissioning of the remodelled reception of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, special religious services, wellness activities, a study tour for State Heads of Service, and a social gathering for civil servants.

    The celebration will culminate in the hosting of the International Civil Service Conference and a national Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony.

    She revealed that the event will be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Eagle Square, Abuja. The conference will feature keynote addresses by reform experts from countries such as the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Ghana and Nigeria. It will also include strategic panel discussions, interactive sessions, exhibitions by public and private organisations, and a special segment to recognise former Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation.

    She explained that the conference is designed to serve as a premier platform for knowledge exchange, digital transformation, institutional partnerships, and citizen-centred service delivery. It also aligns with the strategic priorities outlined in the FCSSIP25, including capability building, performance management, and innovation.

    Read Also: Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation hails new Head of Federal Civil Service

    Dr. Walson-Jack expressed gratitude to sponsors and partners who have supported the Civil Service Week and the International Civil Service Conference.

    She also extended a special invitation to the private sector to partner with the government by sponsoring the conference. She said sponsorship packages ranging from Diamond to Bronze have been designed to give organisations strategic visibility and engagement opportunities with high-level government officials, including permanent secretaries, agency directors, and heads of service from all 36 states and the FCT. Interested sponsors were urged to visit the official conference website to register and secure their slots.

    Dr. Walson-Jack concluded by thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his consistent support for civil service reforms and his acceptance to open the conference and attend the awards ceremony.

    She called on civil servants, stakeholders, and the general public to participate actively in the week-long celebration and to remain committed to building a civil service that is transparent, efficient, and centred on the needs of citizens.

  • Federal civil service to attain full digitisation by 2025, says Yemi-Esan

    Federal civil service to attain full digitisation by 2025, says Yemi-Esan

    The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan, has expressed confidence that the entire service will be fully digitised by the end of 2025.

    She said the Federal Civil Service was making significant progress to transform and digitise its work processes.

    The HoCSF said this at the 45th meeting of the National Council of Establishment in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.

    “From the service wide perspective, all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), all other ministries, are also running with the digitalisation programme, and there are different stages of implementation. But they have a mandate for all to achieve full migration by the end of 2025.

    “It is also worth adding that efforts aimed at transforming the federal civil service through the digitalisation of its work processes have yielded the desired results,” Mrs. Yemi-Esan said.

    Read Also; Our transformation efforts on economy succeeding with NASS cooperation – Tinubu

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who inaugurated the session, emphasised the importance of collaboration in the work process.

    The governor announced measures taken by his administration to improve manpower in the service.

    “Despite the growth in the number of our teeming youths who graduated from various institutions of higher learning with certificates in various disciplines and the decrease in the number of civil servants in the state’s civil service occasioned by retirement, redeployment and deaths, there has not been recruitment in the various cadres of the service for quite some time.

    “In order to address the anomaly, I have given the approval for the employment of 10,000 workers across the critical sectors of the civil service,” Mohammed said.

    The Bauchi State Head of Civil Service, Mr. Yahuza Adamu, reiterated the state’s commitment to workers’ welfare, providing an environment conducive for working effectively, and promoting discipline among employees.

    Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries, and Directors of establishment from all the 36 states participated in the 45th meeting of the National Council of Establishment in Bauchi State.

    The meeting, which held for three days, focused on various issues concerning the public service. The discussions aimed at advancing the cause of civil service in national development.

  • Perm Sec to civil servants: build capacity, add value to service

    • Press Director Olowookere retires

    The Ministry of Labour and Employment Permanent Secretary, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, has urged new employees of the Ministry to see their employment as an opportunity to contribute to national development and add value to the Federal Civil Service.

    The Permanent Secretary, who spoke in Abuja at the induction organised for newly recruited officers, urged them to be patriotic Nigerians, strive to bring glory to the nation by imbibing positive work ethics and shun vices inimical to the service.

    “You are different from the person sitting by you because where you are going is not where the next person is heading, you must remain focused and add value to yourself through capacity development in both computer application, labour laws and public service rules,” she said.

    Mrs Odusote enjoined the inductees to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the induction to keep abreast of information on basic principles and ethics of the Federal Civil Service. “Make the best of this induction course. We have done our part by organising this course, and it behoves on you to reciprocate this kind gesture by not wasting this opportunity as we have put together eminent resource persons to prepare you on your voyage into the Federal Civil Service,” she said.

    Director, Human Resources Management, Mr Ajibola Ibrahim said  the induction course was aimed at building the capacity of the staff for tasks ahead.

    Ayokunle Oluborode, who spoke on behalf of the inductees, appreciated the government for the employment opportunity and the Permanent Secretary for the opportunity to be part of the induction course, believing that it would enhance their efficiency to deliver on the task ahead.

    In another development, the Ministry’s Press Director, Samuel Olowookere, has retired after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation.

    In a statement by Assistant Director (Press), Rhoda Iliya,  Olowookere was employed on January 19, 1984, and his service in the Federal Civil Service  spanned the Office of the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos, April 1984-1985, Office of the Chief of General Staff, General Staff Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos, August-December 1985, Office of the Minister, Federal Ministry of National Planning, Ikoyi Lagos, January–August 1986, Office of the Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance, Ikoyi, Lagos, September–October 1986, The Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, October 24, 1986-October 2006.

    “He was deployed to head the Press and Public Relations Unit Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2006, a responsibility he discharged efficiently to the admiration of the nine ministers and 11 permanent secretaries of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, he had the privilege of working with,” the statement said.

  • Federal Civil Service, AIG seek support for transformation strategy

    THE Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) have embarked on a joint campaign to sign on leaders of the private sector.

    The plan is to seek their hands as  partners in the execution of a high-impact Civil Service Transformation Strategy, supported by the Presidency.

    Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita and Founder and Chairman of AIG Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, are leading the campaign, which has received the backing of the private sector leaders and organisations.

    The private sector leaders included Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group; Mr. Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank; Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Managing Director/CEO, First Bank; Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited and Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank.

    Others are Mr. Kunle Elebute, National Senior Partner, KPMG Nigeria; Mr. Uyi Akpata, Country Senior Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria; Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director, Airtel Networks; Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group; and Mr. Wale Tinubu, Group Managing Director/CEO Oando Plc

    The leaders and organisations expressed optimism on the success of the project with many describing the initiative as an idea, whose time had come.

    Dangote noted that by ensuring the success of the Civil Service reform, the private sector would be ensuring the creation of an enabling environment for business to thrive.

    He emphasised the need to ensure that the welfare of civil servants was effectively addressed as part of the transformation Plan.

    Speaking during the Roadshow, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation said working with AIG, a robust strategy and implementation plan, was developed for the evolution of the civil service into a high-performing entity with improved public service delivery to Nigerians – the first time the service is initiating a reform by itself.

    “We are now about to implement this bold plan and have come to mobilise private sector leaders as partners in the effort to build a transformational civil service that does great things for Nigeria,” she stated.

    The eight priority areas for intervention are training, strategic recruitment, performance management, salary review, innovation, culture transformation, rollout of human resources software and digitisation of service records.

     

  • Maina’s reinstatement embarrassing to FG – APC

    Maina’s reinstatement embarrassing to FG – APC

    The All Progressives Congress says reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, into the Federal Civil Service was an embarrassment to the Federal Government.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that the development was unacceptable and also embarrassing to the party.

    Maina was said to have been dismissed from the Federal Civil Service for abandoning his duty post and evading arrest for his involvement in the looting of pension funds to the tune of N100 billion.

    “We are all shocked like any other person. It is almost unbelievable that such a thing can happen.

    “However, we are all delighted that President Muhammadu Buhari has taken very decisive punitive action against those that are involved.

    “We are also delighted that he has ordered full scale investigation into the circumstances that led to this individual to be reinstated into the public office,’’ he said.

    Abudullahi said that the APC believed that those that were part or found to be part of the development would face appropriate consequences.

    He, however, debunked insinuations that the president was shielding the suspended Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr Ayo Oke, over corruption investigation.

    The APC spokesman expressed confidence that the president would do what was necessary and right under the situations in the best interest of the nation.

    “Action will definitely be taken on them. I think we should just be kind and wait for the president to take action on that before we come to the conclusion that he has not acted,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Senate to stop illegal recruitment into civil service

    Senate to stop illegal recruitment into civil service

    The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, said on Thursday the upper legislative chamber would stop illegal recruitment into federal civil service by accelerating the passage of Existing Vacancies (Prohibition) Bill pending before it.

    In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the bill would be given the deserved attention when the lawmakers resume from vacation in September.

    The Senate president said that the Bill, which is currently due for Second Reading, would be given priority as one of the Senate’s legislative interventions to curb the increasing rates of illegal recruitment into federal government agencies and parastatals.

    “The Existing Vacancies Bill will put in place clear-cut procedures that will help to curb and possibly end the trend of silent or underground recruitment.

    “This country belongs to every Nigerian, and as such, all vacancies that exist in the Federal Civil Service must be properly advertised to give every Nigerian that meet the requirements a chance to apply,” Saraki said.

    He also stated that the objective of the Bill, which was introduced by Senator Biodun Olujimi, was geared toward promoting integrity and transparency in the recruitment of personnel into the Federal Civil Service.

    When the bill becomes law, it will be an offence for federal ministries, agencies and parastatals to fill existing vacancies in their establishments without advertising them to the public.

    “With this Bill, we will set time-frames for recruitment and the publication of recruitment in national dailies. This will make it the duty of the heads of government agencies and ministries to ensure compliance or face punitive measures.

    “Additionally, this Bill will help to ensure that the mandate of the Federal Character Commission is followed to the letter, by imposing punitive measures on those that choose to intentionally flout the law by embarking on secret recruitment exercises within the MDAs under their purview.

    “This illegal recruitment trend needs to stop, and when we resume, we will begin to work towards enshrining this in our laws,” he added.

     

  • Nigeria Police Force promotes 1,731 teachers nationally

    Nigeria Police Force promotes 1,731 teachers nationally

    The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday said it had promoted 1,731 teachers out of the 2,200 that wrote the 2016/2017 promotional examination across the federation.

    Mr Ajao Emmanuel, the Deputy Director, Human Resources, Force Education Headquarters, Abuja, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the presentation of letters of promotion to beneficiaries in the Lagos Zone.

    NAN reports that 241 out of the 1,731 teachers from across the country that benefitted from the promotion d were from Lagos Zone comprising  schools from Ibadan and Abeokuta.

    Emmanuel said the cut-off mark for the examination which held in November 2016 in Abuja was 60 per cent.

    He said that not all members of staff who were not promoted failed the examination.

    Some were not promoted because there was no vacancy to accommodate them in the next cadre, he said.

    “So many factors are usually considered in promotion in the Federal Civil Service and most important is the vacancies available.

    “So, it is possible for somebody to pass an examination and the vacancy will not cover him or her.

    “For example, 60 per cent was the cut-off mark; someone who scored 70 per cent might have not been promoted because there was no vacancy to accommodate him or her.

    “I am trying to explain that for a particular cadre, there may be 20 vacancies and it is possible for 28 candidates to pass the examination.

    “All they do is to take the highest scorers from 1 to 20 and the remaining eight will have to repeat the examination next time,” he said.

    Emmanuel said while so many things were considered in creating vacancies, it is not created by the Police Education Unit but by the Federal Civil Service.

    He said that the Police Education Unit had appealed to the Ministry of Interior and the Head of Service to create more vacancies to enable more teachers to be promoted.

    The Deputy Director said regular promotion was important to motivate the teachers to put in their best to their jobs, which would in turn produce excellent students.

    “The aspiration of a worker in any job at all is to continue rising to the top and then retire with joy; so promotion makes a worker fulfilled and gives him or her the feelings that his or employer cares, ” he said .

    Emmanuel, however, advised the promoted candidates to justify the promotion by not resting on their oars on their jobs but to soar higher.

    A beneficiary, Mrs Felicia Ejeanyido, of the Police Children School, Idimu, expressed joy for being promoted and lauded the authorities for the effort while promising to put in more efforts in her job.