The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has called on ministries and extra-ministerial departments to accelerate their digital transformation processes ahead of the December 31, 2025 deadline.
Walson-Jack made the call on Friday during the official inauguration of the Federal Ministry of Education’s Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) platform in Abuja.
She commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for his commitment to digital transformation and for meeting the Federal Government’s directive that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must go live on the ECMS platform by the end of 2025.
“This is more than just a launch — it is a clear signal that the Federal Ministry of Education is ahead of schedule,” she said. “By doing this, you are in perfect alignment with Pillar 5 of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021–2025, which emphasises the digitalisation of work processes.”
She linked the initiative to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Tinubu, which seeks to promote efficiency, transparency, and technology-driven governance.
Encouraging other ministries to follow suit, Walson-Jack said:
“If the Ministry of Education can do it, so can you. Time is running out, and December 31 is around the corner. Get on board now or risk being left behind.”
The HoS explained that the ECMS represents the first phase of a broader digital transformation agenda, complementing the One Knowledge System recently launched by her office to automate and modernise public service operations.
According to her, the system covers all stages of a civil servant’s career — from recruitment and training to leadership development and exit management — while integrating digital literacy, artificial intelligence tools, and performance management systems.
Walson-Jack also acknowledged the contributions of Secure Records Management Solutions, the technical service provider for the ministry’s ECMS platform, for its professionalism and consistency in supporting public sector digitalisation.
She charged public servants to embrace digitalisation not as a task but as a culture, stressing that “the future of governance is digital, and the future is now.”
In his remarks, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, described the ECMS as a “revolutionary initiative” designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and innovation in the ministry’s operations.
“For too long, public institutions have relied heavily on manual, paper-based processes to manage information and documents,” Alausa said. “While this served its purpose in the past, it often led to delays, duplication of effort, and difficulties in retrieving or securing vital records.”
He said the new digital platform would transform the way the ministry manages information, ensuring faster and more secure access to data while supporting the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation and e-governance agenda.
Alausa outlined three key objectives of the initiative — to enhance transparency and accountability, support the government’s e-governance drive, and improve service delivery through more accurate and reliable access to information.
He, however, noted that the success of the ECMS would depend on ministry staff fully embracing and effectively utilising the system.
“This launch marks the beginning of a new era of digital transformation in the Ministry of Education,” he said. “It is not just about technology but about transforming our culture and improving how we serve the Nigerian people.”
