FG Outlaws Personal Emails For Official Duties

The Federal Government has directed all civil servants to discontinue the use of personal email accounts for official correspondence, mandating that all government communications be conducted through approved institutional platforms as part of efforts to strengthen security and improve record management.

According to Ireporter Online, 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 organized to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Galaxy Backbone.

Walson-Jack disclosed that more than 115,000 official GovMail accounts have already been activated across the federal civil service to provide a secure, professional, and traceable communication system. She emphasized that government business should no longer be conducted through personal email services or informal channels that complicate documentation and accountability.

She explained that retaining official communication within government-controlled systems ensures that critical information remains accessible even after an officer exits public service, thereby safeguarding institutional records and preventing the loss of valuable government data tied to individual employees.

The Head of the Civil Service also revealed that the Federal Government successfully completed the digitalisation of work processes across all 38 federal ministries and extra-ministerial departments before the end of December 2025, describing the milestone as evidence that meaningful reforms are achievable through strong leadership and institutional commitment.

According to her, the accomplishment demonstrates the civil service’s readiness to embrace modern administrative practices while enhancing operational efficiency.

Reflecting on previous challenges, Walson-Jack noted that government files were once vulnerable to delays, misplacement, and prolonged approval procedures. She stated that the transition to digital systems now enables better document tracking, strengthens accountability, and allows authorities to effectively monitor progress across government operations.

She added that the paperless civil service initiative is designed to eliminate unnecessary delays and bureaucracy, improve transparency, and facilitate the faster retrieval and processing of official records, ultimately delivering a more efficient and responsive public service.