FG sets December deadline for paperless civil service in Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has set a strict deadline of December 31, 2025, for all ministries and extra-ministerial departments to fully transition to paperless operations.
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‎The initiative is anchored on the transition to the 1Gov Cloud platform, an indigenous system designed to replace outdated file-based processes and centralize government documentation. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced the “Go-Live” event, emphasizing that the new system, which replaces the previous Laserfish platform, will enhance efficiency, accountability, and transparency across government workflows.

Digitalization is not for show. It is about building a civil service capable of delivering efficiently and positioning Nigeria to compete globally – Mrs Walson-Jack

The transition to the 1Gov Cloud platform is a major pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025). The goal is to modernize public administration, with global best practices for digital governance.
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‎The platform is delivered by Galaxy Backbone Limited, a government-owned agency, and is designed to ensure national digital sovereignty by securing government data within Nigeria’s jurisdiction. The platform provides a unified digital workspace featuring tools such as GovMail, GovDrive, and GovConnect, enabling digital management of records, memos, and virtual meetings.
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‎The mandate is not simply about eliminating paper; it’s about fundamentally changing how the government works. The new system centralizes the management of official records, memos, and approvals, and will fully integrate with the Performance Management System (PMS) by 2026.
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‎This integration is crucial for accountability, as it will make every approval traceable and every output measurable, shifting performance evaluation from perception to evidence.
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‎Mrs. Walson-Jack clarified that while the system increases productivity, it does not permit remote work, stressing that physical presence and accountability remain essential.
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