The Federal Government has officially ended the use of paper-based bureaucracy across key government offices and 38 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), transitioning fully to a digital, paperless system from Wednesday.
The announcement was made by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who confirmed the successful completion of presidential and administrative directives mandating all participating MDAs and extra-ministerial departments to operate entirely paperless by December 30, 2025.
MDAs to Stop Accepting Paper Submissions
Under the new policy, the State House, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Civil Service Commission, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and 33 other MDAs will no longer accept paper documents through physical registries.
All official correspondence must now be submitted electronically via designated registry email addresses, which are published on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation website. Citizens have also been encouraged to monitor the progress of their submissions through the Federal Civil Service Paperless Portal.
Faster, Transparent and More Efficient Governance
Explaining the policy, Walson-Jack said the transition eliminates the need for physical letters and envelopes, noting that scanned documents sent via email with relevant attachments are now sufficient for official communication.
She said the paperless system will improve service delivery by eliminating missing or misplaced files, speeding up response times, and creating clearer audit trails across government offices.
According to her, the reform will make government services more accessible, transparent, and reliable for both citizens and businesses.
Secure Digital Communication for Civil Servants
The Head of Service further disclosed that official government email addresses have been created for all civil servants to ensure secure, professional, and auditable communication across MDAs.
She noted that the initiative strengthens government control over official correspondence, improves inter-agency responsiveness, and reduces reliance on informal communication channels.
The paperless reform marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing public sector digital transformation agenda.
