The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially declared an end to paper-based bureaucracy across all its ministries. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced that the civil service has now fully transitioned to a digital, paperless system for all official activities.
The Digital Framework and GovMail Rollout
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Walson-Jack revealed the extensive scale of the digital transformation. She disclosed that more than 100,000 official email accounts have been established for civil servants on the unified GovMail platform. This initiative ensures that every government worker now operates with a secure, professional, and auditable official email address.
The digital framework has been expanded to cover 38 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments. This comprehensive list includes the 33 federal ministries and five key extra-ministerial bodies:
- The State House
- The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
- The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
- The Federal Civil Service Commission
- The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation
New Rules for Correspondence and Citizen Engagement
With immediate effect, no federal ministry will accept paper correspondence. All official communications must be submitted as scanned documents sent to designated official email addresses. The era of submitting physical letters through ministry registries is over.
Mrs. Walson-Jack explained that this move strengthens government control over official correspondence, boosts responsiveness, and reduces dependency on unofficial channels. For citizens and the international community, this means traditional paper letters are no longer necessary. Scanned letters and attachments sent via email are now sufficient for all communication with the Federal Civil Service.
To facilitate this, the registry email addresses for all 38 entities are published on the website of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Furthermore, citizens can now track their correspondence with any ministry or department through the newly launched Federal Civil Service Paperless portal.
Cost Savings and Future Connectivity Plans
A significant benefit of the GovMail platform is substantial financial savings for the government. Walson-Jack stated that the unified system is saving the Federal Government billions of naira annually. This is achieved by eliminating the need for fragmented, agency-specific external email subscriptions and software licenses, delivering better value for public money.
Recognizing the critical need for reliable internet access, the Head of Service noted that discussions are ongoing with telecommunications providers. The goal is to make internet access more affordable and improve connectivity reliability for all ministries and departments to support seamless digital workflows. A sustainable pricing model is also being developed to ensure the long-term affordability, scalability, and maintenance of these digital platforms.
This landmark shift marks a definitive step towards a modern, efficient, and cost-effective federal civil service in Nigeria, aligning government operations with global digital standards.
