Abuja: The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has announced that Nigeria’s transition to a paperless civil service marks a ‘defining milestone’ in the nation’s journey toward modern governance. Speaking at the Paperless Civil Service Gala and Awards Night in Abuja, Akume stated that the move away from manual documentation is more than just a technical upgrade.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Akume emphasized that this shift represents a cultural revolution aimed at eliminating bureaucracy and enhancing transparency within the civil service. He pointed out that the digital transformation is a core pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting that the transition to paperless work processes is not merely a technological upgrade but a fundamental shift in culture, mindset, and service delivery. Akume stated, ‘It represents efficiency over bureaucracy, transparency over opacity, and accountability over discretion.’
The SGF further explained that digital governance is now a mandatory requirement for fiscal discipline and effective decision-making. Special recognition was given to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), led by Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, who was praised for aligning policy with execution and staying committed to the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021-2025). Akume reaffirmed his office’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance government coordination and efficiency.
Earlier, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone (GBB), noted that the transition to a paperless civil service marked a defining milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. Adeyanju highlighted Walson-Jack’s leadership as instrumental in inspiring confidence, ownership, and collective action across the service. He acknowledged that while change is challenging, her willingness to reimagine processes and adopt new systems has delivered tangible progress, placing efficiency, transparency, and service excellence at the heart of governance.
Beatrice Eyong, a representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to Nigeria, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the UNDP’s focus on digitalization as a partnership area. Eyong noted that transforming real skills into jobs is part of Nigeria’s future and mentioned that partnerships are being explored to develop an investment recipient team on an innovation hub to promote civil service excellence.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event, sponsored by GBB, served as a platform to honor MDAs that have championed digital adoption despite formidable institutional resistance.