FG Ends Paper Files as Ministries Go Fully Digital

Nigeria’s paperless civil service has officially moved from promise to practice. The FG says every federal ministry now operates without paper, signalling a major change in how public business is handled.

The announcement came from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack. She confirmed that all ministries have completed their transition to digital operations. As a result, paper correspondence is no longer accepted across the federal service.

The move places Nigeria among countries pushing to modernise government systems. It also reflects growing pressure to improve efficiency, transparency, and record keeping.

A System Built Around GovMail

At the centre of the paperless civil service is GovMail, the government’s official email platform. According to Walson-Jack, over 100,000 email accounts have been created for civil servants. Every federal worker now uses an official government address.

She explained that this ensures secure and traceable communication. It also limits reliance on private email services for official matters.

“This strengthens sovereignty over official correspondence, enhances responsiveness across MDAs, and reduces reliance on unofficial communication channels,” she said.

From now on, ministries will only process scanned documents sent through approved email addresses. Physical letters sent to registries will no longer be accepted.

The digital transition currently covers 38 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments. These include the State House, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Why the FG Says Paper Has to Go

Beyond convenience, officials argue that the paperless civil service brings financial benefits. Walson-Jack said GovMail is already saving the government billions of naira each year. The savings come from ending multiple external email subscriptions used by agencies.

“GovMail is saving the FG billions of Naira annually by reducing dependence on fragmented, agency-specific external email subscriptions,” she said.

She added that discussions are ongoing with telecoms providers. The goal is to improve internet access and keep digital platforms affordable for ministries.

“A sustainable pricing model is being created to keep digitalisation platforms affordable, scalable, and maintainable over the long term,” Walson-Jack noted.

Citizens are also affected by the change. Government correspondence can now be tracked through the Federal Civil Service Paperless Portal. This allows individuals and organisations to monitor submissions without visiting offices.

“In simple terms, a paperless Civil Service means that citizens no longer need to send traditional paper letters,” she said.

Official registry email addresses are available on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service website.