Abuja: Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), has called on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fully transition to paperless operations before the end of 2025. Walson-Jack made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a world press conference ahead of the 2025 International Civil Service Week and African Public Service Day, scheduled to hold between June 25 and June 26.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25) serves as the guiding framework for civil service reforms, with digitalisation being a core component. Walson-Jack emphasized that the transition to digital operations is an integral part of the FCSSIP 25 agenda, set to conclude by December 31. She stressed the urgency of accelerating the implementation of its core pillars, particularly digitalisation.

Walson-Jack highlighted that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has already adopted a paperless system, serving as a model for other MDAs. She noted that the digital transformation efforts are gaining momentum, with the Federal Ministry of Health being the latest to adopt an enterprise content of the Performance Management System (PMS), becoming the 11th ministry to operate without paper.

Despite the progress, Walson-Jack acknowledged the challenges faced by some MDAs, particularly with funding. She mentioned that partnerships are being leveraged to support their transition to paperless operations. She expressed confidence that with sustained effort, the entire civil service will achieve this goal by the end of 2025.

Walson-Jack also explained that digital transformation extends beyond eliminating paper, involving the automation of workflows and improvement in service delivery. She highlighted the launch of several digital platforms in her first 100 days in office as part of the reform efforts aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability within the civil service.

Addressing the implementation of the PMS, Walson-Jack expressed concerns over the delays in its execution across MDAs, attributing the setbacks to funding challenges. She assured that despite these challenges, the system remains operational across MDAs, although at varying stages of implementation.