By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that 38 ministries and extra-ministerial departments have now transitioned to a secure paperless workflow system, even as he declared that Nigeria’s civil service was undergoing a major digital transformation,
Speaking while declaring open the International Civil Service Conference 2026 in Abuja on Wednesday, Tinubu said the era of “manual inefficiency” in government operations must come to an end as the country pushes for a faster, technology-driven and more accountable public service.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President said the reforms carried out under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda were beginning to yield measurable results, noting that the civil service had moved “from aspiration to execution, and from execution to measurable impact.”
According to him, the adoption of end-to-end electronic workflow systems across dozens of ministries signals Nigeria’s determination to build a modern bureaucracy capable of driving investment, innovation and inclusive growth.
“When we spoke of digitalisation in 2025, some may have considered it an ambition for the distant future. Today, with 38 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments operating on a secure, paperless and end-to-end electronic workflow system, we are sending a clear message: Nigeria is building a public service that enables progress,” he said.
Tinubu, according to a statement by Mr Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, directed all ministries, departments and agencies to deepen digital work processes and embrace technology in service delivery, insisting that public institutions must become more responsive to citizens’ needs.
“The era of manual inefficiency must give way to a culture of speed, transparency, data-driven decision-making and citizen-centred service,” he stated.
The President also revealed that the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis authorised by his administration was nearing completion, adding that government was identifying competency gaps and repositioning workers for 21st-century governance.
Tinubu linked the reforms to the broader digital infrastructure agenda of his government, including Project BRIDGE — Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth — which he recently promoted at the Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda.
He said Nigeria was opening up its digital infrastructure ecosystem to investors and development partners as part of efforts to boost jobs, innovation, connectivity and public sector efficiency.
The President commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for driving reforms under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025.
He particularly praised the integration of innovative tools such as Service-Wise GPT, describing it as evidence of what could be achieved through disciplined leadership and institutional commitment.
Tinubu said the conference should serve as a “results laboratory” for deeper governance reforms, urging participants to focus on making reforms irreversible and strengthening accountability across public institutions.
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