The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a major shift toward digitalization, with all federal ministries moving to a fully paper‑less mode of operation. According to Didi Walson‑Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, every ministry has been completely digitalized, eliminating the need for paper in government transactions. This milestone is part of a broader effort to modernize the civil service and is supported by the creation of more than 100,000 email accounts for civil servants on the GovMail platform. GovMail provides secure, professional and auditable communication, and all federal workers now use official government email addresses.
Under the new system, federal ministries will no longer process paper correspondence; only scanned documents sent through designated official email addresses will be accepted. This change is expected to strengthen sovereignty over official correspondence, improve responsiveness across agencies, and reduce reliance on unofficial communication channels. The digital transformation encompasses 38 ministries and extra‑ministerial departments, including the State House, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Federal Civil Service Commission. By cutting dependence on external email subscriptions and licenses, GovMail is projected to save the federal government billions of naira each year.
To consolidate these gains, the 38 ministries and extra‑ministerial departments will no longer accept paper submissions at their physical registries. Citizens are now instructed to send correspondence to official registry email addresses, which are listed on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation website. A paper‑less portal has also been created, allowing citizens to track their correspondence with individual government agencies. This shift toward a paper‑less civil service represents a significant step toward greater efficiency and transparency in government operations. With the new system, both citizens and the international community can communicate with the Federal Civil Service via email, eliminating the need for traditional paper letters. The government is also working to make online access more affordable and to enhance the reliability of connectivity required for digital workflows.
Comments are closed for this story.