Paper Files to Disappear From Ministries as FG Enforces Full Digital Switch
The Federal Government has announced that all federal ministries and extra-ministerial departments must eliminate paper files and fully transition to digital operations by December 31, 2025, as part of a sweeping reform to modernise the civil service.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, issued the directive on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the second edition of the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement meeting organised by her office.
She described the digitalisation drive as a core pillar of the ongoing reform agenda, aimed at eliminating inefficiency, corruption, and administrative delays across government institutions. According to her, digitising workflows will not only remove bottlenecks but also strengthen transparency and accountability.
“We envisage that reducing human interaction would eliminate conduits of inefficiency, delay and corruption. Digitalisation represents more than a shift to digital files but a leap towards a modern, efficient and transparent civil service where decision making is quicker, records are secure and processes are more innovative,” she said.
The event brought together Directors-General, CEOs, state heads of service, civil servants, and citizens who participated both physically and online.
Walson-Jack disclosed that over 92,000 federal public servants have already been assigned official email addresses. She added that registries in ministries that have fully adopted paperless operations will soon have their official email addresses released to the public for easier communication.
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The announcement coincided with the conclusion of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25), giving the Head of Service the opportunity to review the progress made under the reform initiative.
She highlighted key milestones, including the ongoing comprehensive Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASSGAP). Verification of domestic staff has been completed, while verification for civil servants in the diaspora is scheduled for December 15–19.
On Performance Management, she noted that the new system has become the framework for promotions, with clearer indicators and structured feedback contributing to improved productivity across the service.
Walson-Jack also pointed to renewed focus on capacity building, stating that institutions like the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) and the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) are being revitalised to support continuous professional development.
She further announced that the 2026 International Civil Service Conference will take place on May 20 and 21, urging stakeholders to “mark their calendars boldly.”
The Head of Service expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for what she described as visionary support for the civil service reforms, including digitalisation and new policies on rewards, recognition, and mentoring. She also acknowledged the contributions of development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Galaxy Backbone Limited.
“This is the moment for innovation, proactive problem-solving, collaboration and full ownership of the ongoing reforms. Lead from your desks, embody service values, uphold professionalism and finish strong,” she said.
