Federal Government Partners NASENI to Digitize FEC Operations, Targets Full Paperless System by 2025

In a bold move toward administrative modernization, the Federal Government has launched a comprehensive plan to digitize all Federal Executive Council (FEC) processes, setting an ambitious goal of achieving a completely paperless system by December 2025. The initiative was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

The agreement, announced on Friday in Abuja, marks a pivotal step in Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation agenda. According to a statement issued by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the OSGF, the collaboration will see NASENI deploy advanced technology solutions to automate the workflow of the Cabinet Affairs Office (CAO), which coordinates all FEC meetings and documentation.

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Digitization to Revolutionize FEC Operations

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who was represented at the signing ceremony by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Emanso Okop Umobong, described the partnership as a “landmark step” toward enhancing transparency, efficiency, and data management within the nation’s top decision-making body.

“Digitization of the Cabinet Affairs Office will significantly ease the burden on ministers, who currently have to handle voluminous documents during council meetings,” Akume said. “In December 2024, we achieved real-time transcription of Council proceedings. This next phase will fully digitize all processes. By December 2025, we are confident that the Federal Executive Council will operate completely paperless.”

He emphasized that the reform would not only streamline document handling but also introduce real-time access to council materials, ensuring improved coordination, accountability, and archival precision. According to Akume, adopting digital platforms will ultimately reduce bureaucratic delays and minimize human errors in the documentation of FEC decisions.

NASENI to Lead the Technological Overhaul

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to deliver on the project. He noted that NASENI had already digitized its own internal processes successfully and was now positioned to replicate the same model within the OSGF.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting government institutions in building sustainable digital infrastructures. At NASENI, we have implemented similar automation frameworks that improved our operational efficiency. We are confident that this initiative will set a new standard for public-sector management in Nigeria,” Halilu stated.

He further explained that NASENI’s role would involve deploying customized software, secure data storage solutions, and real-time collaboration tools for the Cabinet Affairs Office. The system will also include an advanced electronic records management platform capable of archiving and retrieving council decisions seamlessly.

Aligning with Nigeria’s Digital Transformation Vision

The digitization drive aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader vision of transforming governance through technology and innovation. The administration has repeatedly emphasized the need to modernize public institutions to deliver services more efficiently while cutting operational costs.

By digitizing the FEC’s operations, the government aims to model best practices that can later be adopted by ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) nationwide. This digital shift is also expected to reduce paper waste, improve sustainability, and strengthen Nigeria’s commitment to environmentally responsible governance.

Analysts have hailed the initiative as a timely reform that reflects the evolving needs of modern governance. With FEC meetings often involving hundreds of pages of documents, transitioning to digital platforms could save millions of naira annually in printing and logistics costs while also expediting decision-making processes.

Efficiency, Transparency, and Accountability

The new system will allow ministers and senior officials to access council materials electronically via secure tablets and cloud platforms. Real-time data synchronization will ensure that every decision, comment, or amendment made during FEC meetings is accurately captured and stored for easy retrieval.

Officials say the digitization initiative will also introduce digital signatures and encrypted communication channels to safeguard classified information. Furthermore, a transparent document-tracking system will allow relevant offices to monitor the progress of policy implementation, from approval at the council level to execution in respective ministries.

“This is about efficiency, transparency, and long-term institutional memory,” said Dr. Umobong. “Digitization ensures that future generations can easily retrieve and analyze past council decisions. It will also improve how ministers and the secretariat prepare and follow up on policy matters.”

Toward a Fully Paperless Government by 2025

As Nigeria advances toward its 2025 target, both NASENI and the OSGF have committed to a phased implementation strategy. The first phase will focus on the complete automation of document management and council scheduling systems. The second phase will integrate artificial intelligence for real-time transcription, translation, and smart indexing of FEC discussions.

By the end of 2025, the goal is for all council deliberations, documentation, and record-keeping to be conducted entirely without paper — making Nigeria one of the first African countries to achieve full digital transformation in cabinet governance.

Industry experts believe the move will strengthen Nigeria’s standing in the global e-governance index and attract greater confidence from international partners who value transparency and accountability in public administration.

With this reform, the Federal Executive Council is poised to set a new benchmark for efficiency in governance — one that aligns Nigeria with 21st-century standards and demonstrates the government’s resolve to embrace innovation as a tool for national development.