The Federal Government has taken a major step towards a fully paperless civil service with the official launch of the 1Government Cloud Enterprise Content Management System (1GovCloud ECM) in Abuja.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr (Mrs) Didi Esther Walson-Jack, marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey towards a digital, efficient, and transparent public service.
Speaking at the launch, Walson-Jack described the development as “a great milestone” in implementing the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25), which seeks to create a digitally enabled and citizen-focused service.
“Over the last year and several months, we have laid the foundation for a unified digital spine for the Service. Our digitalisation effort is yielding remarkable results,” she said.
The Head of Service disclosed that 59,544 official government email accounts have been deployed, giving every civil servant a verified digital identity and access to the new ECM platform.
She explained that the 1GovCloud ECM establishes a single digital backbone for all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), ensuring harmonised records management, interoperability, and seamless collaboration.
According to her, the transition from the legacy Laserfiche system to the new sovereign platform is guided by four key principles — national digital sovereignty, interoperability, cost efficiency, and inclusive adoption.
“Under the Nigeria First policy, the Federal Government prioritises platforms developed, hosted, owned, and governed by Nigerians. Moving to 1GovCloud aligns with our sovereign digitalisation agenda and safeguards Nigeria’s data and digital future,” she stated.
Developed and delivered through Galaxy Backbone Limited, the 1GovCloud suite integrates tools such as GovMail for secure communication, GovDrive for file sharing, and GovConference for virtual meetings, alongside e-signature and mobile access features.
Walson-Jack directed all MDAs yet to onboard to commence immediate adoption, adding that those on other platforms must migrate to 1GovCloud by 2026. She reaffirmed the deadline for a fully paperless service as 31 December 2025, describing it as “not aspirational, but operational.”
“Technology must lift everyone together. No civil servant will be left behind. This is how we will move from performance by perception to performance by evidence,” she declared.
She also announced the formation of a committee of Permanent Secretaries to negotiate licence pricing with Galaxy Backbone within two weeks, with recommendations expected by 25 November 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretaries, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended Walson-Jack’s leadership and persistence, saying her determination had kept the reform on course.
“Change is never easy, but her commitment has kept us aligned. By December, by the grace of God, every MDA will be online,” he said.
Executive Director (Finance) of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Ibrahim, noted that the new system ensures uninterrupted workflow and approvals, regardless of officers’ physical locations.
“You don’t have to be seated at your desk to receive or sign a file. Work continues seamlessly, wherever you are,” he said.
Chairman of the Joint Union in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Comrade Sylvester Abba, described the initiative as “a people’s breakthrough,” saying it restores dignity and accountability to the Nigerian worker.
“For the first time, every officer from level 3 to the most senior leadership has a seat at the digital table. The days of invisible effort are ending,” he said.
Program Manager of 1GovCloud, Mr Ayodeji Bakare, said the platform enhances transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement, allowing Nigerians to interact with government processes in real time.
The event concluded with a live demonstration led by Walson-Jack and other top officials, who declared: “We are not digitalising for theatrics; we are digitalising to build a nation that must compete and win in the world we live in. Nigeria has indeed entered a new digital era.”
