Digital Future: FG Accelerates Civil Service Tech Drive

Digital Future: FG Accelerates Civil Service Tech Drive

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA February, 2026 - The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reposition the Nigerian public service for the digital age, with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) driving large-scale digital literacy training across ministries, departments and agencies.

Speaking at the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) training awards programme in Abuja, NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, said Nigeria is targeting 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, with an interim milestone of 70 per cent by 2027. He described the initiative as central to strengthening governance, improving service delivery and aligning the public sector with national development priorities.

Inuwa disclosed that 54,377 civil servants have enrolled in the programme—representing about 79 per cent participation—while over 40 per cent have completed their courses. He explained that DL4ALL was introduced to equip public servants with foundational digital skills, noting that early challenges, including limited access to official email accounts, were resolved through coordinated institutional support. Incentives such as laptop awards were also introduced to encourage course completion and practical application of skills.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, described the awards ceremony as both a recognition of excellence and a benchmark for progress toward a digitally enabled public service. She revealed that plans are underway to transition ministries and extra-ministerial departments to paperless operations by December 2025, underscoring the need for continuous upskilling to meet evolving administrative demands.

Both officials reaffirmed the government’s commitment to embedding digital literacy within broader public sector reforms, positioning technology as a catalyst for institutional efficiency, accountability and Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.