FG Orders Full Civil Service Digitalization by 2025, Moves to End Paper Usage Across MDAs
The federal government has mandated all ministries and agencies to adopt fully paperless systems by December 31, 2025.
This move aims to boost transparency, efficiency, and performance across Nigeria’s public sector through tech-driven service delivery.
In a bold move to modernize public administration, the federal government has instructed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fully digitize their operations and transition to paperless systems by December 31, 2025.
This directive was announced by the newly appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. The announcement comes ahead of the 2025 International Civil Service Week and African Public Service Day, which will be commemorated from June 25 to 26.
According to Walson-Jack, the digital transformation drive is anchored on the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25), a reform roadmap aimed at strengthening efficiency, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s public sector.
“We’re not just asking MDAs to go paperless; we’re already doing it,” she said. “The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had already adopted a paperless model even before I assumed office.”
Walson-Jack emphasized that the clock is ticking and that the civil service must intensify its transition efforts before the strategy’s conclusion at year-end. She underscored the need for all MDAs to adopt digital workflows, noting that this is not optional but a mandated shift for long-term institutional transformation.
The FCSSIP 25 outlines clear objectives, including digitalization, improved performance management, and enhanced service delivery. As the plan nears its end, MDAs are being pushed to implement technologies that eliminate outdated manual processes and replace them with real-time, automated solutions.
The Head of Service revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health recently became the 11th MDA to implement an Enterprise Content and Performance Management System (PMS). This system is central to tracking service performance, staff accountability, and paperless document management.
However, Walson-Jack acknowledged that some agencies are lagging behind due to limited access to capital funding, which has slowed technology adoption. Despite these challenges, she maintained that efforts are being made to scale the reforms through collaborative initiatives and technical support.
“The race to December 31 is on,” she stated. “By the grace of God and with sustained effort, the entire civil service will be paperless by the end of 2025.”
Walson-Jack’s appointment as Head of Service by President Bola Tinubu signals a renewed commitment to restructuring the public sector. Her leadership comes with a firm stance on digital literacy and modernization.
She had previously declared there would be no place for non-computer-literate individuals within the federal civil service, indicating the administration’s readiness to build a workforce aligned with global digital standards.
Under her guidance, digital transformation is not only about reducing paper waste but also about fostering efficiency, transparency, and data-driven decision-making.
Next steps for civil servants
With less than seven months to go before the FCSSIP 25 wraps up, MDAs have been urged to accelerate system upgrades and digital transitions. The federal government is also reportedly looking to deepen partnerships with tech providers and civil service reform advocates to help overcome funding barriers.
Ultimately, the push for a paperless civil service reflects the government’s broader goal of repositioning Nigeria’s public institutions as responsive, tech-driven, and citizen-focused.
