The Federal Government of Nigeria has set a target to save more than N2 billion in the 2026 fiscal year. This significant financial efficiency is tied directly to a major directive for all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to transition to a fully digital, paperless operational model.
The High Cost of Paper and the Digital Deadline
An analysis of recent budgets reveals the staggering cost of stationery across the federal bureaucracy. In 2024, ten key ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Finance, collectively spent N969.37 million on paper and related materials. This expenditure ballooned to N1.52 billion in 2025 and was projected to climb even higher without intervention.
To curb this spending and modernise operations, the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation set December 31, 2025, as the strict deadline for MDAs to become completely paperless. This move is a core part of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021-2025), designed to enhance efficiency, ensure transparency, and reduce opportunities for corruption and delays.
Leadership Champions the Digital Shift
At the official launch of the Electronic Content Management (ECM) system within his ministry, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, declared the end of paper correspondence. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Deborah Odoh, the minister emphasised that digital transformation is a "national necessity" for achieving the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.
"It is therefore essential that we keep prioritising efficiency, innovation and modern governance," Bagudu stated. He connected the initiative directly to President Bola Tinubu's vision, highlighting its role in driving institutional reform and using technology as a catalyst for national development.
Bagudu also stressed that the success of the digitalisation effort hinges on a change in mindset. "The success of this system will depend on how well we embrace change, how willing we are to learn, and how committed we are to using these tools to serve our mandate with integrity and excellence," he told ministry staff, urging them to take ownership of the new system.
A Strategic Move for the Nation's Planning Hub
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Didi-Wilson-Jack, who performed the launch, noted the profound significance of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning adopting this system. She described the ministry as sitting "at the very heart of government" where national plans and budgets are crafted.
"It is therefore both symbolic and strategic that this ministry is embracing a smarter, faster, and more accountable way of managing its information," she said. Didi-Wilson-Jack framed the launch not just as a technical upgrade, but as a decisive step by a ministry planning Nigeria's future to secure its own operational future in the digital age.
The collective push towards a paperless government represents a fundamental shift in how Nigeria's public service operates. By automating workflows and digitising files, the government aims to redirect billions of naira from administrative overhead towards more impactful national projects while building a more transparent and agile civil service.
