The Federal Government has instructed civil servants across the country to discontinue the use of personal email accounts for official duties and migrate all government correspondence to approved institutional communication platforms.
The directive was announced in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, during a digital transformation summit organized to mark the 20th anniversary of Galaxy Backbone.
According to Walson-Jack, the government has already activated more than 115,000 official GovMail accounts as part of efforts to strengthen the security, professionalism, and traceability of communications within the federal civil service.
She emphasized that government business should no longer be conducted through personal email services or informal communication channels that complicate documentation and record management.
The Head of Service explained that maintaining official communications within government-controlled systems would ensure continuity and preserve institutional records even when public officers leave their positions.
She noted that the move is designed to prevent the loss of important government information that may otherwise remain tied to individual employees.
Walson-Jack also revealed that the Federal Government successfully completed the digitalisation of work processes across all 38 federal ministries and extra-ministerial departments before the end of December 2025.
She described the achievement as a major milestone in the ongoing modernization of the civil service and evidence that public institutions can successfully embrace reform through effective leadership and commitment.
According to her, the transition demonstrates the readiness of the civil service to adopt modern operational methods and improve service delivery.
Reflecting on past challenges, Walson-Jack recalled that government documents were often delayed, misplaced, or trapped within lengthy bureaucratic processes.
She said the adoption of digital systems has significantly improved document tracking, accountability, and performance monitoring across government institutions.
The Head of Service further explained that the paperless civil service initiative is intended to enhance efficiency by reducing delays, minimizing unnecessary bureaucracy, improving transparency, and enabling faster retrieval and processing of official records.
She added that digital transformation remains a critical component of the government's broader strategy to modernize public administration and deliver more responsive services to citizens.
The latest directive is expected to further strengthen data security and improve the management of government information as the federal civil service continues its transition toward fully digital operations.
