The Federal Government has directed civil servants to discontinue the use of personal email platforms, including Gmail and Yahoo Mail, for official correspondence.
Government workers are now expected to conduct official communications through GovMail, the institutional email platform created for the Federal Civil Service.
The directive is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, protect government information and improve accountability across federal ministries, departments and agencies.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson Jack, explained that the continued use of personal email accounts for official assignments could expose sensitive government information to cyberattacks, data theft and unauthorised access.
Personal email services also make it difficult for government institutions to retain important records. Documents and official correspondence stored in private accounts may become unavailable when an officer is transferred, retires or leaves public service.
GovMail provides a central communication system where government correspondence can be securely stored, managed and retrieved. The platform allows official records to remain within government control, regardless of changes in personnel.
The system is also designed to support stronger access management, proper documentation, digital archiving and the monitoring of potential cybersecurity threats.
All federal ministries, departments, agencies and other public institutions are expected to comply with the policy. Heads of government establishments are responsible for ensuring that their officers use approved institutional email addresses for official duties.
GovMail was introduced in November 2024 as part of the Federal Government’s digital transformation programme. The platform provides civil servants with verified government email addresses for secure and professional communication.
The initiative is also expected to reduce the government’s reliance on foreign commercial email providers and strengthen Nigeria’s control over its public sector data.
Galaxy Backbone Limited, the Federal Government’s digital infrastructure company, disclosed that more than 150,000 government email accounts have been activated across ministries, departments and agencies.
The adoption of GovMail is expected to improve accountability by ensuring that official messages, approvals, directives and administrative decisions are properly preserved and can be reviewed when necessary.
It will also help government institutions respond more effectively to audits, investigations, administrative inquiries and requests made under the Freedom of Information Act.
The policy is equally intended to reduce impersonation and email fraud. Members of the public will be better able to confirm that messages originate from authorised government officials when communications are sent through verified institutional addresses.
The Federal Government said civil servants would receive training and technical assistance to support the transition to GovMail and address challenges relating to account access, data transfer and platform usage.
The directive forms part of the government’s broader plan to build a secure, coordinated and digitally driven public service.
