Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has declared that by December 31, all ministries and extra-ministerial departments will operate entirely on digital platforms, eliminating the use of paper in their operations.
The announcement was made during her keynote address at the “Second Edition of the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement” held in Abuja on Thursday.
Walson-Jack explained that this ambitious transition is being facilitated through the adoption of an enterprise content management system designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness in the civil service.
She emphasised that the move is aimed at allowing citizens to access government services online, reducing delays, minimizing human error, and limiting opportunities for corruption.
“Our target is to ensure that citizens and public service users can reach us online and receive immediate responses,” Walson-Jack said.
She noted that official email addresses of registries from ministries that have already gone paperless are available, and more will be shared as departments transition to the digital system.
The Head of Service highlighted that the initiative goes beyond replacing paper files with digital ones.
According to her, the transformation represents a leap toward modern, efficient, and transparent governance where decision-making is faster, records are secure, and processes are more innovative.
She added that ministries achieving full digitalisation will receive special recognition for their efforts.
In addition to improving public service delivery, the digital system would facilitate secure internal communication between ministries, and enable virtual meetings, further strengthening collaboration and operational efficiency.
Walson-Jack also acknowledged the support of Galaxy Backbone Nigeria Limited, the official ICT provider for the federal government, for their role in implementing the digital infrastructure.
She pointed out that professional development remained a cornerstone of the reforms, citing institutions such as the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), the Lagos State Public Service Institute, and federal training centers in the six geopolitical zones.
These centers provide technical and leadership training to ensure civil servants are equipped to meet the demands of a modernized service.
Walson-Jack also mentioned that the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FC25), which has been in operation since 2021, has already strengthened areas such as capability building, accountability, digitalization, and innovation.
The new paperless initiative is part of a broader effort to consolidate these gains and deepen reforms for sustainable improvement in service delivery.
Also, a comprehensive personnel audit and skills gap analysis, known as PASSGAP, is being conducted to assess the workforce’s capacity and identify gaps that need to be addressed through training and development.
The initial verification of civil servants in Nigeria has been completed, while verification for staff in the diaspora is scheduled to take place between December 15 and 19.
The Head of Service stressed that these reforms were not just procedural changes but a strategic effort to build a civil service that is transparent, accountable, and citizen-centered.
She urged stakeholders to continue supporting the government’s digitalization agenda and to participate actively in improving public service delivery.
She highlighted the performance management system (PMS) as a key reform tool that has transformed how ministries set expectations, evaluate outcomes, and manage promotions, emphasising that structured performance monitoring is helping to create a more productive and accountable workforce.
“This initiative is about creating a civil service that is capable, efficient, and prepared for the future,” Walson-Jack said, reiterating that digitalisation is central to achieving these goals.
