The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has described Nigeria’s transition to a paperless civil service as a “defining milestone” in the country’s journey towards modern and effective governance.
Akume stated this at the Paperless Civil Service Gala and Awards Night held in Abuja, noting that the shift from manual documentation to digital processes goes beyond a technical upgrade and represents a cultural revolution within the public service.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks, improving transparency and strengthening accountability across government institutions. He added that digital transformation remains 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,” Akume said.
The SGF emphasised that digital governance has become a mandatory requirement for fiscal discipline and effective decision-making, while reaffirming his office’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance coordination and efficiency in government.
Akume gave special recognition to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), led by Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, commending her leadership for aligning policy with execution and sustaining commitment to the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025).
He noted that the awards sent a strong message that excellence within the civil service would always be recognised and rewarded.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone (GBB), Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the transition to a paperless civil service marked a defining point in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. He praised Walson-Jack’s leadership for inspiring confidence, ownership and collective action across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Adeyanju said that despite institutional resistance, tangible progress had been recorded, with almost all MDAs either commencing or actively transitioning their operations through the GBB 1Government Cloud solution.
“This places efficiency, transparency and service excellence at the heart of governance,” he said, adding that GBB remained committed to supporting full digitalisation across MDAs.
Also speaking, a representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, Beatrice Eyong, said digitalisation was a key area of partnership for the UNDP, noting that digital skills could be transformed into jobs and measurable development outcomes.
The event, sponsored by Galaxy Backbone, also served as a platform to honour MDAs that have championed digital adoption despite significant institutional challenges.