Ministry Of Defence Adopts Paperless Operations For Efficiency

As part of ongoing reforms to improve service delivery and administrative efficiency, the Ministry of Defence has transitioned to paperless operations.

Speaking at the formal go-live launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) at the Ministry’s headquarters, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), explained that delays caused by manual file movement and paper-based approvals often hinder effective service delivery.

He stressed that the new digital system would ensure faster processing and the timely execution of critical decisions, significantly enhance decision-making, strengthen information security, and improve support to military operations.

According to the Minister, approvals that previously took days would now be completed within minutes, while sensitive defence communications would be better protected through secure digital platforms.

He added that the ECMS would also preserve the Ministry’s institutional memory by creating a reliable and durable digital archive, noting that efficiency at the administrative level directly impacts operational readiness in the field.

He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency as key drivers of national development.

In a remark, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Walson-Jack, described the launch of the ECMS at the Ministry of Defence as strategic and timely, given the sensitive nature of defence administration.

She said effective records and information management are critical to national security and noted that the deployment of the system on the OneGov Cloud platform would enhance confidentiality, accuracy, and speed in government processes.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Richard Pheelangwah, said the transition to a paperless system was a direct response to the Federal Government’s digitalisation directive.

He noted that the ECMS would eliminate missing files and delayed memos, reduce operational costs, and promote transparency and accountability through secure digital audit trails.

Aisha Adesanya, Edited By Grace Namiji