From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Federal Government on Monday launched an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as part of efforts to digitise its operations and cut reliance on paper-based processes.
The initiative, introduced under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25), aims to drive a paperless public service by 2030 and achieve 80 per cent digitalisation of government operations by 2025.
Speaking during the launch in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the development as a significant step towards efficient and transparent service delivery.
“This is more than theory; we are witnessing real implementation,” Pate said. “The ECM is not just a tool; it’s a manifestation of a new way of working that is efficient, responsive, and transformational.”
He commended the ministry’s staff and its Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, for what he described as professionalism and sustained commitment to reforms over the last two years.
Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, said the launch demonstrated the government’s commitment to building a responsive and citizen-focused public service.
“This is about reimagining how we work and serve Nigerians in a digital era,” she said, adding that over 31,000 official email addresses had been deployed across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as part of the reform.
She said the Office of the Head of the Civil Service would soon launch its new website, hosted on Galaxy Backbone’s Virtual Private Server, to further support its digital transformation efforts.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Kachollom, said the ECM system would enhance collaboration, improve data security, and reduce costs.
“This is not just an upgrade,” she said. “It’s a shift to a secure, integrated approach that aligns with national development goals.”
The Ministry of Health becomes the 11th core MDA to deploy the ECM platform, joining the Office of the Head of Service, the State House, and the Ministries of Finance, Education, and Solid Minerals Development.
The event ended with a renewed call on civil servants to embrace innovation and drive the digital transformation agenda across all sectors of government.