By OKON OKON

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.

She said that the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation. Plan (FCSSIP 25) guides civil service reforms.

She said that going digital by civil servants formed part of the FCSSIP 25 agenda, and was due to conclude on Dec. 31.

“Realising that FCSSIP 25 ends this year, we resolved to accelerate the implementation of its core pillars, especially digitalisation.

“We are urging all MDAs to go paperless. This is not just a directive, it is something we have already implemented.

“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been paperless even before I assumed office, ” she said.

Walson-Jack said that the digital transformation efforts were gaining momentum across the service.

She cited the Federal Ministry of Health as the latest to adopt an enterprise content of Performance Management System (PMS).

“I was in the Ministry of Health last week to launch their content management system.

“It is now the 11th ministry or extra-ministerial department to operate paperlessly,” she said.

The HCSF, however, acknowledged that some MDAs were facing challenges, particularly with funding.

She said that partnerships were being leveraged to support their transition.

“The race to Dec. 31 is on, and by the grace of God and with sustained effort, the entire civil service will be paperless by the end of 2025.”

Walson-Jack said that digital transformation went beyond eliminating paper, explaining that it also involves automating workflows and improving service delivery.

“In my first 100 days in office, we launched several digital platforms.

This journey is about reforming how the civil service operates for greater efficiency and accountability,” she said.

Speaking on implementation of the PMS, Walson-Jack expressed concerns over the delay in the exercise across MDAs.

She said that the implementation of the system was ongoing, in spite of current funding challenges.

She attributed the delay in the 2025’s cycle to a lack of access to capital project funding.

“This year, we experienced a major hitch due to the delay in accessing funds.

“This has slowed down the PMS cycle. However, I assure you that the system remains operational across MDAs, albeit at varying stages of implementation,” she said. (NAN)