The Nigerian civil service is undergoing a significant digital transformation but needs to engage more support from the private sector, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office (SDO) at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation says.
This progress was highlighted during a national workshop, “Rethinking Reforms: Why Many Reforms Fail in Nigeria and What We Can Do About It,” organised by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation. The event, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja recently, brought together experts from both the public and private sectors to discuss public service delivery and the importance of public-private partnerships.
During a panel discussion, Ajani highlighted three strides made in digitizing government processes. She revealed that a substantial portion of policy files, once solely paper-based, have been migrated to digital platforms.
“The civil service before 2020 was largely analogue,” Ajani stated. “But today, about 60-80 percent of policy files in the federal civil service- not just the head of civil service- is already digitized.” This transformation, she explains, is a result of collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors.
Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office (SDO) at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
Nigeria’s Civil Service has moved from analogue to digital
“The civil service before 2020 was largely analogue,” Ajani stated. “But today, about 60-80 percent of policy files in the federal civil service- not just the head of civil service- is already digitized.” This transformation, she explains, is a result of collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors.
Some government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) have fully embraced digital operations. Ajani cited the Ministry of Transportation as an example, which transitioned to a completely online workflow in March 2023, eliminating the need for physical files and paper-based approvals. The Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Head of Public Service are also leading the way in digital transformation.
To sustain this momentum, Ajani stressed the role the private sector played in this, “This can only come from support from the private sector.”
“Beyond teaching us the skills and encouraging us to do it, they also provided funding and so we need more people to come in to help. We know the government does not have the much needed funds to help us, it is through collaboration that we will do that.”
In addition to digitization, the civil service is implementing performance management reforms. Ajani reveals that there was an overhaul of performance management systems. The traditional Appraisal Performance Assessment (APA) form, which she describes as “bastardized”, has been replaced by performance management contracts that are directly linked to the National Development Plan.
This new system ties individual performance to the national development plan and the government’s eight priority areas. This approach aims to align civil servants’ goals with broader national objectives.
She also mentions the Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU) which is a tracking system that allows for real-time assessment of MDAs’ performance. The CDCU monitors the execution of government policies, programs, and projects.
In addition, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) was mentioned as being instrumental in streamlining human resources management. By verifying employee data and salaries, IPPIS has helped to reduce fraudulent payments and optimize government spending.
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, established by philanthropists Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede in 2020, is committed to supporting public sector reform through initiatives such as leadership development programmes for public servants and policy research.
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