OSAS EMMANUEL
ABUJA, Nigeria – In a bid to modernise governance, the federal government has announced that the Nigerian civil service will transition to a fully paperless operation by December 2025.
The initiative was disclosed on Wednesday by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, at a briefing in Abuja.
The briefing was organised to commemorate the celebration of the 2025 African Public Service Day and Civil Service Week.
According to Walson-Jack, the move is in accordance with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which is set to conclude at the end of the year.
She noted 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).
She said that 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 announced.
As part of the celebrations for the 2025 African Public Service Day and Civil Service Week, Dr. Walson-Jack outlined a series of activities designed to honour public service values and promote excellence.
She reflected on the importance of the African Public Service Day, which was adopted in 1994 at the Pan-African Conference of Ministers in Tangier, Morocco, and is celebrated annually on June 23 across the continent.
“In Nigeria, we take this opportunity to celebrate with a week-long event that highlights our commitment to reform and progress,” she said.
The Civil Service Week, running from June 20 to 28, will serve as a time for reflection on the progress of reforms and a celebration of achievements within the public service.
The programme 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 week will culminate in the hosting of the International Civil Service Conference and a national Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu set to officially open the event at Eagle Square, Abuja.
The conference will feature keynote addresses from reform experts from countries such as the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Ghana, and Nigeria, along with strategic panel discussions, interactive sessions, and exhibitions by public and private organisations.
Walson-Jack expressed her gratitude to sponsors and partners who have supported the Civil Service Week and the International Civil Service Conference. She also extended an invitation to the private sector to join in this transformative journey by sponsoring the conference.
“We have designed sponsorship packages ranging from Diamond to Bronze to provide organisations with strategic visibility and engagement opportunities with high-level government officials,” she explained.
Walson-Jack, therefore, appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support for civil service reforms and for agreeing to open the conference and attend the awards ceremony.
She called on civil servants, stakeholders, and the general public to actively participate 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. “Together, we can create a civil service that truly serves the people,” she added.
