In a powerful signal of its readiness to embrace the future, the Federal Government has announced an ambitious plan to make Nigeria’s civil service fully digital and paperless by the end of 2025 — a transformation hailed as one of the most significant administrative overhauls in the nation’s history.
Leading this charge is Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who revealed the groundbreaking initiative during a high-level press briefing in Abuja. The announcement comes as part of the 2025 African Public Service Day and Civil Service Week — a moment of reflection and renewal for public institutions across the continent.
“We are not just adopting digital tools,” Walson-Jack declared. “We are reshaping the DNA of the Nigerian public service to be faster, smarter, and more responsive to the needs of our people.”
Backed by the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, the transition to a paperless civil service isn’t just about efficiency. It’s a bold step toward transparency, sustainability, and citizen-focused governance.
Already, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has fully digitised its operations. Eleven ministries — including the Ministry of Health, which recently launched its own Enterprise Content Management System — have followed suit. Dozens more are in motion, and strategic partnerships are helping bridge resource gaps to ensure no ministry is left behind.
“This is more than a tech upgrade. It’s a cultural revolution,” Walson-Jack said. “We’re dismantling bureaucratic bottlenecks and replacing them with speed, access, and accountability.”
The digitisation initiative is just one part of a broader reform effort being celebrated during Civil Service Week (June 20–28), which features wellness programs, faith-based reflections, study tours, and a celebration of excellence across the civil service. The highlight will be the International Civil Service Conference and National Recognition Awards, to be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Eagle Square, Abuja.
The conference will bring together global reform experts from the UK, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Ghana, and Nigeria, creating a platform for cross-border innovation and shared learning.
With sponsorship opportunities open to private sector players, Walson-Jack is calling on Nigerian businesses to be part of this new chapter in governance.
“We’ve created pathways for organisations to gain strategic visibility while partnering in a transformation that benefits every Nigerian,” she explained.
Grateful for President Tinubu’s unwavering support, Walson-Jack urged all Nigerians — public servants, private stakeholders, and citizens — to engage actively in the journey.
“This is not just about digital files. It’s about a new kind of civil service — leaner, cleaner, and laser-focused on delivery. It’s about a future where public service truly works for the people.”