The Federal Government has directed all civil servants to stop using personal email accounts for official communication, marking a significant step in its ongoing drive to strengthen digital governance and improve data security across public institutions.
The directive was announced on Thursday in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, during a digital transformation summit organised to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Galaxy Backbone.
Explaining the new policy, Walson-Jack revealed that more than 115,000 GovMail accounts have already been activated for federal workers as part of efforts to move government correspondence onto secure and officially monitored platforms.
According to her, government business should no longer be conducted through personal email addresses or informal communication channels, which often create challenges for record management, accountability, and information security.
She stressed that official records must remain within government-controlled systems and not be tied to individual employees.
“The essence is to ensure continuity, accountability, and proper documentation. Government information should remain accessible even after an officer leaves service or changes roles,” she noted.
Digitalisation Drive Reaches Major Milestone
The Head of Service also disclosed that the Federal Government successfully completed the digitalisation of workflows across all 38 federal ministries and extra-ministerial departments before the December 2025 deadline.
She described the achievement as a major milestone in the civil service reform agenda, noting that it demonstrates the ability of public institutions to embrace technology and modern administrative practices.
According to Walson-Jack, the transition from manual processes to digital systems has significantly improved the speed and efficiency of government operations.
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Reflecting on the old system, she recalled that physical files were often delayed, misplaced, or trapped in lengthy bureaucratic approval chains, slowing decision-making across government agencies.
However, she said the adoption of digital platforms has transformed document management by making it easier to track files, monitor workflow progress, and hold officials accountable for assigned tasks.
The reforms, she added, are helping to create a more transparent and responsive public service.
Push for a Paperless Civil Service
Walson-Jack said the paperless civil service initiative remains a key pillar of the government’s modernisation strategy.
She explained that the programme is designed to reduce bureaucracy, improve transparency, accelerate service delivery, and ensure faster retrieval and processing of official records.
The latest directive is expected to further tighten information management practices within the federal civil service while strengthening cybersecurity and institutional memory across government agencies.