The Federal Government (FG) has set a firm December 2025 deadline to fully digitalise the operations of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing digital governance reforms.
The plan, which aims to replace the FEC’s long-standing paper-based workflow with a secure, end-to-end electronic system, is being implemented under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
The partnership will see NASENI deploy digital infrastructure and workflow automation tools for the Cabinet Affairs Office (CAO) — the unit that coordinates all FEC activities — as part of efforts to modernise cabinet management, improve decision-making, and strengthen institutional efficiency.
The officials say the automation drive will transition FEC operations from bulky paper documentation to a fully electronic, paperless cabinet system that enhances speed, security, and accessibility for ministers and senior government officials.
Nigeria sets paperless deadline for cabinet modernisation
The officials say the automation drive will transition FEC operations from bulky paper documentation to a fully electronic, paperless cabinet system that enhances speed, security, and accessibility for ministers and senior government officials.
Dr. Emanso Okop Umobong, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, who represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described the initiative as a landmark reform in Nigeria’s public administration.
“Digitalisation of the Cabinet Affairs Office will significantly ease the burden on Honourable Ministers, who currently have to handle voluminous documents during Council meetings,” Dr. Umobong says.
“In December 2024, we achieved real-time transcription of Council proceedings. This next phase will fully digitalise all processes. By December 2025, we are confident that the Federal Executive Council will operate completely paperless, and we are grateful to NASENI for partnering with us to make this a reality.”
The paperless cabinet goal, Dr. Umobong adds, represents the next stage in the FG’s broader plan to automate government workflows, reduce bureaucratic delays, and deliver faster, data-backed policy decisions.
The Cabinet Affairs Office says it has already achieved significant progress on its digital journey. In December 2024, it successfully deployed a real-time transcription system for FEC meetings — allowing decisions, discussions, and policy directions to be captured instantly during sessions.
The 2025 phase builds on this foundation by expanding digital documentation, approval, and archival processes into a comprehensive cabinet management system, designed to reduce paper use, lower administrative costs, and strengthen record security at the highest level of government.
NASENI brings innovation to governance automation
Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, says the collaboration reflects the agency’s commitment to applying its digital engineering expertise to advance Nigeria’s public sector transformation.
“NASENI has gone through its own digital transition internally, so we understand what it takes to implement full automation,” Halilu notes. “Our role is to ensure that the Federal Executive Council’s operations become smarter, faster, and more efficient — setting a new benchmark for digital governance in Nigeria.”
The partnership, he explains, will combine NASENI’s innovation capacity with the OSGF’s policy leadership to create a connected cabinet system capable of supporting real-time collaboration and data-driven decision-making.
Driving Nigeria’s digital government agenda
The automation of FEC processes aligns with the Federal Government’s broader digital governance agenda, which seeks to modernise operations across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by adopting electronic workflows, improving transparency, and cutting operational costs.
Analysts say that achieving the December 2025 paperless cabinet target could set a new benchmark for digital transformation in public administration, demonstrating how Nigeria can leverage technology to enhance executive coordination and policy efficiency.
With the Federal Executive Council set to go fully digital, the reform signals a shift toward a smarter, data-driven governance culture — one that replaces bureaucracy with agility and information with insight.
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