The Nigerian government has announced an ambitious plan to transition its entire federal civil service to a fully digital, paperless system by the close of 2025.
Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, made the announcement at a press briefing in Abuja, held in preparation for the upcoming International Civil Service Week and African Public Service Day slated for 25–26 June.
Citing the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25), Walson-Jack said the digital shift is a key priority in the country’s public sector reform agenda. “As the plan draws to a close this year, we are intensifying efforts to digitise operations across all MDAs,” she stated.
She noted that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service had already gone paperless prior to her assumption of office and that other institutions were making significant strides. The Ministry of Health recently became the 11th federal body to implement an enterprise-level content and performance management system.
However, the transformation has not been without challenges. “We’re aware that funding has delayed progress for some MDAs,” Walson-Jack said, adding that strategic partnerships are being explored to bridge financial gaps.
“Going paperless isn’t just about reducing paper—it’s about building smarter, more efficient systems that can deliver services better and faster,” she said. “We are not just digitising; we are reforming.”
Addressing concerns about the slow implementation of the Performance Management System (PMS), she explained that delays stemmed from difficulties in accessing capital funding, but assured the public that deployment remains underway in many departments.
Despite the setbacks, Walson-Jack expressed optimism that the civil service will meet its digital transformation target by the end of next year.
