FG Bans Use of Personal Emails for Official Duties, Mandates GovMail for Civil Servants

The Federal Government has directed all civil servants to discontinue the use of personal email accounts for official correspondence and migrate fully to approved government communication platforms as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen digital governance, improve record management and enhance data security.

Naijapunchnews reports that the directive was announced 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.

According to Walson-Jack, the Federal Government has already activated more than 115,000 official GovMail accounts across the civil service as part of measures aimed at ensuring secure, professional and accountable communication within government institutions.

She stated that government business should no longer be conducted through personal email services or informal communication channels that complicate documentation, monitoring and the preservation of official records.

Move Aimed at Strengthening Information Security

The Head of Service explained that one of the major objectives of the policy is to ensure that official government information remains within institutional systems rather than being tied to individual employees.

According to her, reliance on personal email accounts creates challenges in preserving government records, especially when public servants retire, resign or are transferred to other assignments.

She noted that keeping official correspondence within approved government platforms would improve institutional memory and prevent the loss of important documents and information.

“Government activities should no longer rely on personal email services or informal channels,” she said, emphasizing the need for a more structured and secure communication framework across ministries, departments and agencies.

Federal Civil Service Completes Digitalisation Drive

Walson-Jack also disclosed that the Federal Government had successfully achieved a major milestone in its digital transformation agenda by completing the digitalisation of work processes across all 38 federal ministries and extra-ministerial departments before the December 2025 deadline.

She described the achievement as evidence that meaningful reforms can be accomplished when there is strong leadership, political will and institutional commitment.

According to her, the successful implementation of digital systems demonstrates the capacity of Nigeria’s civil service to adapt to modern technologies and international best practices.

The development forms part of broader efforts to modernise public administration and improve service delivery through technology-driven solutions.

End of Delays Associated With Paper-Based Processes

Reflecting on past challenges within the public service, Walson-Jack noted that paper-based systems often contributed to delays, misplaced files and prolonged approval processes that slowed government operations.

She explained that digital platforms now provide greater visibility and accountability by making it easier to track documents, monitor workflow processes and evaluate performance across government institutions.

The transition to electronic systems, she said, has significantly reduced bottlenecks that previously hindered efficiency in the civil service.

Paperless Initiative to Boost Efficiency and Transparency

The Head of Service further stated that the Federal Government’s paperless civil service initiative is designed to improve operational efficiency while reducing bureaucracy and administrative delays.

According to her, the initiative will enhance transparency, speed up decision-making processes and ensure that records can be retrieved, processed and archived more effectively.

She added that digitalisation also provides opportunities for better data management, improved collaboration among government agencies and stronger accountability mechanisms.

The directive marks another step in the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to build a modern, technology-driven civil service capable of delivering services more efficiently while safeguarding official information and strengthening institutional governance.

Observers say the move could significantly improve records management, cybersecurity and operational efficiency across the federal public service if fully implemented and sustained.