FG Implements AI-Driven Public Service Reforms and Sovereign Digital Infrastructure, Says Walson‑Jack

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government reiterated its pledge to enhance public service delivery by deploying sovereign digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, aiming to accelerate the digitalisation of public services.

It stated that the Federal Civil Service is adopting innovation, resilience, and technology‑driven reforms to strengthen governance and service delivery.

Didi Esther Walson‑Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, made the announcement at the International Civil Service Conference (ICSC) 2026 in Abuja.

The conference convened heads of service from various states and countries, senior government officials, reform experts, and technology stakeholders to discuss the future of governance and digital transformation in Africa, using the Nigerian Public Service as a benchmark.

She revealed that all 38 federal ministries and extra‑ministerial departments met the December 2025 deadline to fully digitalise their operations and transition to paperless governance.

According to her, the Federal Government’s Service‑Wise GPT platform—a AI‑powered tool designed to help civil servants navigate service rules and institutional knowledge—has recorded over 50,000 conversations.

“These are not vanity metrics. They are evidence that technology, when it solves real problems, gets adopted,” she said.

Walson‑Jack emphasised that artificial intelligence should support human capacity and improve public service delivery, not replace human judgement.

She also credited the progress in public service reforms to the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, noting that the administration had strengthened accountability, performance, and results across the public sector.

The Head of Service further praised Galaxy Backbone and their technical partner for their role in the 1Government Cloud programme, which supports the federal government’s digitalisation agenda.

Also speaking, Wumi Oghoetuoma, Group Chief Executive Officer of Crown Interactive and technical partner to Galaxy Backbone on the GBB 1Government Cloud, presented the company’s vision for Africa’s sovereign digital public infrastructure.

He described the 1Government Cloud framework as a government‑focused digital workspace designed to place civil servants at the centre of public sector transformation.

“The civil servant is also a citizen. She is not just the person behind the desk; she is the person the desk was built to serve,” he said.