The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has announced that all federal ministries and extra-ministerial departments in Nigeria have fully transitioned to a paperless mode of operation.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Walson-Jack disclosed that every federal ministry has now been digitalised and will no longer conduct official government business using paper correspondence.
She revealed that over 100,000 official email accounts have been created for civil servants on the government’s dedicated GovMail platform, ensuring that all officers operate with secure, professional and auditable government email identities.
According to the HCSF, federal ministries will henceforth stop accepting physical letters, stressing that only scanned correspondence sent through approved official email addresses will be recognised.
She explained that the paperless initiative now covers 38 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments (MEMDs), made up of 33 ministries and five extra-ministerial bodies. These include 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, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“This strengthens sovereignty over official correspondence, enhances responsiveness across MDAs, and reduces reliance on unofficial communication channels,” Walson-Jack said.
She added that the GovMail system is saving the Federal Government billions of naira annually by eliminating the need for fragmented, agency-specific external email subscriptions and licences, thereby delivering better value for money.
The HCSF also noted that discussions are ongoing with telecommunications providers to improve internet affordability and connectivity for ministries, which she said is critical for sustaining digital workflows. A long-term pricing model, she added, is also being developed to ensure the digital platforms remain affordable, scalable and reliable.
“To consolidate these gains and finally end the culture of paper-based bureaucracy, the 38 Federal Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments will no longer accept paper submissions through their physical registries,” she stated.
Walson-Jack said all correspondence must now be sent to official registry email addresses, which are available on the website of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. She added that citizens can now track their submissions through the Federal Civil Service Paperless Portal.
“In simple terms, a paperless Civil Service means that citizens and the international community no longer need to send traditional paper letters with envelopes to communicate with the Federal Civil Service,” she explained. “A scanned letter sent via email, with attachments from a personal or organisational email address, is now sufficient.”
The development marks a major shift in Nigeria’s public service administration, signaling a decisive move towards efficiency, transparency and digital governance.
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