The secretary to the government of the federation, George Akume, says the transition to a paperless civil service is a “defining milestone” in Nigeria’s journey toward modern governance.

Speaking at the Paperless Civil Service Gala and Awards Night in Abuja, the SGF said that the move away from manual documentation is more than a technical upgrade.

According to him, it is a cultural revolution aimed at eliminating bureaucracy and enhancing transparency. Mr Akume said that the digital transformation was a core pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The transition to paperless work processes is not merely a technological upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in culture, mindset, and service delivery. It represents efficiency over bureaucracy, transparency over opacity, and accountability over discretion,” he said.

Mr Akume said that digital governance is now a mandatory requirement for fiscal discipline and effective decision-making. He gave special recognition to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, led by Didi Walson-Jack,

He praised her leadership for aligning policy with execution and staying committed to the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025).

Mr Akume said that the awards had sent a powerful message that excellence within the civil service would always be recognised and rewarded.

Mr Akume reaffirmed his office’s commitment to supporting all initiatives that enhance government coordination and efficiency.

The MD of Galaxy Backbone, Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the transition towards a paperless civil service marked a defining milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

Mr Adeyanju said Ms Walson-Jack’s leadership had not only provided direction but had inspired confidence, ownership and collective action across the service. He said change was never easy, but her willingness to reimagine processes, adopt new systems, and champion digital workflows has delivered tangible progress.

Adeyanju noted that this “places efficiency, transparency and service excellence at the heart of governance”.

He said that GBB, alongside other partners, was committed to continuing to work tirelessly to ensure that MDAs achieve full digitalisation and unlock the true benefits of a paperless government.

“A paperless civil service is not just a technological shift; it is a critical enabler of accountability, innovation and inclusive growth,” he said.

Beatrice Eyong, a representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Nigeria, said one of the areas that UNDP identified for partnership was in digitalisation. 

According to Ms Eyong, real skills can be transformed into jobs. This is part of the future in Nigeria.

She said, “Beyond that, we have been exploring a number of partnerships, including developing an investment recipient team on an innovation hub to promote excellence within the civil service.

“We can take ideas into enterprises. We can take policies into really measurable gains that can accelerate inclusive development.”

(NAN)