Era of manual inefficiency must end in Nigeria’s civil service — Tinubu

…orders full digitisation of MDAs

By Nnasom David

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that the era of manual inefficiency in Nigeria’s public service must give way to transparency, speed and accountability, as he directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to deepen digitalisation across their operations.

Tinubu made the declaration on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held in Abuja.

The president was represented by the secretary to the government of the federation, George Akume.

Speaking on the conference theme, “Reforms, Resilience and Results,” Tinubu said Nigeria’s public service was gradually shifting from policy formulation to measurable impact under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the Civil Service had shown resilience in the face of global economic shocks and rising citizen expectations, adding that reforms were already yielding tangible results.

“The results we see today speak to the resilience, commitment and adaptability of our workforce,” the president said.

Tinubu disclosed that 38 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments were already operating fully paperless, end-to-end electronic workflow systems, describing the development as a major milestone in governance reform.

“When we spoke of digitalisation in 2025, some may have considered it an ambition for the distant future. Today, with 38 ministries and extra-ministerial departments operating on a secure, paperless and end-to-end electronic workflow system, we are sending a clear message: Nigeria is building a public service that enables progress,” he stated.

He stressed that bureaucracy must no longer be a bottleneck but a driver of efficiency, innovation and inclusive growth.

Tinubu also revealed that the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis initiated at the previous conference was nearing completion.

According to him, the exercise is designed to identify capacity gaps within the Civil Service, strengthen competencies, and ensure proper placement of personnel in line with modern governance demands.

“We are identifying gaps, strengthening competencies and ensuring that the right people are placed in the right roles, equipped with the digital skills and professional discipline required for 21st-century governance,” he said.

The President also linked the reforms to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure drive under Project BRIDGE — Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth — noting that it would enhance connectivity, create jobs and improve service delivery.

He therefore directed all MDAs to sustain and expand digitalised processes across their operations.

“The era of manual inefficiency must give way to a culture of speed, transparency, data-driven decision-making and citizen-centred service,” Tinubu added.

Tinubu urged participants at the conference to ensure that reforms translate into measurable and lasting outcomes, stressing the need for stronger accountability systems and institutional resilience.

He said Nigerians expect results and efficient service delivery, adding that the Civil Service must justify public confidence through performance.

The President thereafter declared the International Civil Service Conference 2026 officially open.

In her address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, said the ongoing reforms under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 had significantly transformed the operations of the Civil Service.

She said the strategy had strengthened institutional performance, improved service delivery and introduced innovative digital tools that are reshaping governance processes.

Walson-Jack noted that the introduction of platforms such as Service-Wise GPT reflected the Civil Service’s commitment to innovation and efficiency.

According to her, the reforms are already improving productivity, enhancing decision-making and making public service delivery more citizen-focused.

She added that collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies had been critical to sustaining momentum in the reform process.

The Head of Service further assured that the Civil Service would continue to evolve into a more agile, professional and technology-driven institution capable of meeting Nigeria’s development needs.

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