The Federal Government is poised to achieve significant financial savings exceeding N2 billion in the 2026 fiscal year, driven by a comprehensive shift to paperless operations across its ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The Drive for a Digital Civil Service
This move is part of the Electronic Content Management (ECM) system, a digitalisation programme spearheaded by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The initiative is a core component of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025). Unlike simple file scanning, the ECM system focuses on automating entire workflows to enhance efficiency and transparency.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi-Wilson-Jack, had set a definitive deadline of 31 December 2025 for all MDAs to achieve full paperless status. This directive aims to curb corruption, reduce administrative delays, and modernise governance.
Substantial Savings from Stationery Cuts
A revealing analysis of budget allocations underscores the potential for savings. In 2024, ten key ministries collectively spent N969.37 million on stationery items. This group included:
- Foreign Affairs
- Defence
- Information and National Orientation
- Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy
- Budget and Economic Planning
- Industry, Trade and Investment
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Finance
- Interior
- Office of the Head of Service
By 2025, the stationery expenditure for these same ministries ballooned to N1.52 billion, with projections indicating a further rise in 2026 without intervention. The adoption of the ECM system is designed to reverse this costly trend.
Leadership Endorsement and Strategic Implementation
At the official launch within the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Minister, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, emphasised the critical nature of this transformation. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Deborah Odoh, Bagudu stated that digital transformation is a national necessity, not an option, for achieving the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.
He connected the launch directly to the vision of President Bola Tinubu, highlighting its alignment with goals of reform, institutional efficiency, and leveraging technology for development. “The digitalisation pillar of this reform is transforming the Federal Civil Service,” Bagudu noted. He stressed that success depends on a change in mindset, urging staff to embrace the new system as a tool for smarter, more collaborative, and excellent service delivery.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Didi-Wilson-Jack commended the ministry for taking a bold step. She described the launch as a strategic move by the ministry that plans the nation's future to secure its own operational future. “This achievement places the ministry firmly on track to meet the federal government’s directive for full digitalisation by 31st December 2025,” she stated, confirming it delivers on Pillar 5 of the civil service strategy.
The transition marks a pivotal step towards a more efficient, accountable, and cost-effective government, moving Nigeria's public service firmly into the digital age.
