Police affairs ministry ditches paperwork for digital operations

The Ministry of Police Affairs has begun a major shift away from paper-based administration with the introduction of an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system to digitise its internal operations.

The new platform is intended to replace manual documentation with a secure digital framework designed to strengthen governance, boost transparency and improve efficiency across the ministry.

Under the system, staff will utilise a suite of digital tools, including Gov CMS for managing workflows, Gov Email for official communication, Gov Conference for virtual meetings and Gov Drive for document storage.

The move is in line with the directive of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, which targets the full digitisation of the federal civil service by December 31, 2025.

Speaking at the unveiling of the platform on Sunday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr Ogbonnaya Nlia, said the deployment marked a significant milestone in the ministry’s digital reform agenda.

According to him, the ECM will strengthen accountability, preserve institutional memory and enhance service delivery.

“This is not merely the introduction of technological tools but the beginning of a new culture, one engineered by accountability, transparency, institutional memory, and operational excellence,” he said.

Nlia explained that the platform would enable proper management of official records, real-time tracking of workflows, protection of sensitive documents and faster decision-making across departments.

He encouraged staff to fully embrace the system, assuring them of continuous training and technical support to ensure smooth adoption.

“The world we live in is driven by information technology and speed. Technology only delivers its full value when fully utilised,” he added.

Also speaking, the Group Head of Research and Digital Development at Galaxy Backbone, Mr Akintayo Bamidele, described the rollout as a major step in transforming government operations and public service delivery.

He noted that the ECM initiative was being implemented across federal ministries, with structures in place to ensure a seamless transition to fully digital work processes.

For decades, the Nigerian civil service has relied heavily on manual systems for record-keeping, correspondence and workflow management, often leading to delays, inefficiencies and limited transparency.

Successive administrations have repeatedly stressed the need to modernise public service operations through digital solutions to enhance accountability, improve efficiency and safeguard institutional records.

Under the leadership of Walson-Jack, the Federal Government has set December 31, 2025, as the deadline for completing the digital transformation of all federal ministries, a move aimed at cutting red tape, strengthening data security and improving engagement with stakeholders.