In a landmark development for public administration in Nigeria, the Federal Government has confirmed that all 31 federal ministries and departments are now fully compliant with digital operations, completing the long-standing push to transition to a paperless civil service. This achievement, announced in Abuja at a high-profile gala event, reflects a major shift in how government business is conducted and signals a new era of efficiency and transparency in public service delivery.
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The Full Paperless Compliance and Digitalisation Milestone Celebrated in Abuja
The announcement came from Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who spoke to a gathering of senior officials and dignitaries at the Paperless Civil Service Gala and Awards Night. Her address painted the achievement as a defining moment in Nigeria’s administrative history and a culmination of years of planning, strategy and technological investment.
Mrs Walson-Jack traced the roots of this accomplishment to reforms laid down in successive Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plans stretching back to 2017. When she took office in August 2024, only three ministries had transitioned completely to digital operations. Through sustained effort, including the establishment of dedicated “war rooms” to drive pace and accountability across ministries, the government met its end-of-2025 target with all ministries on board.
The transition from traditional paper-based processes to digital workflows was not just about modernising routine tasks. According to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the shift was designed to boost efficiency, improve record-keeping and make public service more responsive to the needs of citizens. She emphasised that digitalisation was about improving systems rather than reducing the workforce.
Tangible Benefits of Going Digital
Officials highlighted measurable impacts of the paperless initiative. More than 100,000 official government email accounts have been created for civil servants, a move that has saved billions of naira in licensing fees previously incurred under older systems. Over 25,000 interactions have been recorded through Service-Wise GPT, an artificial intelligence tool trained on public service rules designed to assist staff with queries. At the same time, an Online Compendium of Circulars has eliminated the need for physical searches through paper records, streamlining access to key documents.
These tools exemplify how digital systems can reduce the bureaucratic lag that has long been associated with paper-intensive public service. Officials said digital workflows enable faster decisions, better collaboration across agencies and greater accountability in operations.
In addition to efficiency gains, the Federal Civil Service Online Academy was launched to modernise training for staff and ensure that civil servants across the country are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a digital environment.
A Locally-Driven Vision for Digital Governance
Mrs Walson-Jack highlighted that the transition aligns with the Nigeria First policy, underscoring that all digital platforms and tools were developed within the country. This domestic focus is intended to support Nigeria’s economy, showcase local technical capacity and strengthen sovereign control over government data and infrastructure.
She also linked the success of the paperless drive to the broader vision of the Renewed Hope agenda, which has emphasised modernisation and reform across government. She thanked President Bola Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, and permanent secretaries for their support and leadership in seeing the project through.
Echoing the importance of this achievement, Senator Akume described the paperless transition as a major milestone that will enhance overall governance in Nigeria. He noted that the awards presented at the gala symbolise the government’s commitment to recognising excellence within the civil service and motivating continued innovation.
Modernisation Within the Context of the Wider Digital Push
The full compliance of federal ministries with digital workflows builds on earlier directives and infrastructure investments aimed at transforming public service. Earlier this year, the Federal Government rolled out the 1Government Cloud project under the Sovereign Digitalisation Programme, a platform designed to provide secure cloud infrastructure, digital file management and collaboration tools across ministries, departments and agencies. This initiative aimed to improve government efficiency, strengthen data security and align Nigeria’s public service practices with global standards.
Officials stressed that digital transformation was a core objective of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2021–2025, with a decisive push to ensure all civil service operations are managed electronically by the end of the year. In mid-2025, the HCSF set a firm deadline of December 31 for all ministries and agencies to adopt paperless workflows, a target that has now been met.
The 1Government Cloud platform, developed by Galaxy Backbone Limited, includes tools such as secure communication systems, document management solutions and identity authentication services. These tools are intended to support government operations across ministries and ensure secure, efficient collaboration in a digital setting.
As part of this digital expansion, ministries such as Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction have recently adopted the 1Gov ECMS platform, further embedding cloud-based systems into everyday workflows. Officials noted that digital adoption improves work quality, reduces reliance on paper and enhances responsiveness to citizens’ needs.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Paperless Future
Nigeria’s achievement of 100 per cent digital compliance across federal ministries marks a new chapter for public administration in the country. Government leaders have articulated that this transformation is essential for Nigeria to remain competitive on the African continent and globally. As technology reshapes how citizens engage with public services, the move to a fully digital civil service sets new expectations for efficiency, accountability and transparency.
However, sustaining this progress will require continued investment in infrastructure, cybersecurity, staff training and updating digital tools to meet evolving needs. Civil service leaders have indicated that the Online Academy and similar initiatives will play crucial roles in maintaining workforce readiness and ensuring that Nigeria’s public service does not merely adopt technology but uses it to deliver meaningful outcomes for citizens.
The success of the paperless compliance drive also signals to other African nations that comprehensive digital transformation in government is achievable with deliberate policies, local innovation and collaborative leadership. As Nigeria transitions fully into this digital era, government operations are positioned to be more efficient, transparent and responsive than ever before.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s civil service has reached an important milestone with the completion of its transition to paperless operations across all federal ministries and departments. This achievement reflects years of strategic planning, technological investment and leadership commitment to modernising governance. As digital compliance becomes standard practice, the public sector moves closer to delivering more efficient, transparent and citizen-centred services.
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