The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development says its adoption of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) System has improved efficiency, transparency and document management across its operations.
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday during the first anniversary of the ECM System and the launch of the ministry’s Performance Management System (PMS).
Ata said the milestone marked more than a year of operating a digital system, describing it as a reflection of the ministry’s broader effort to transform how government information is created, managed, shared, secured and preserved.
ECM Reduces Paperwork, Speeds Up Workflows
According to the minister, the introduction of ECM has improved access to information, reduced dependence on physical documents, strengthened records management and supported faster workflows.
“The introduction of enterprise content management has strengthened our efforts toward a more efficient, transparent and digitally-enabled public service,” he said.
Ata said the system was contributing to the ministry’s goal of developing a modern and responsive institution in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He commended the ministry’s management, staff, ICT Department, technical team and other stakeholders for their contributions to the implementation.
The minister also urged staff to fully embrace the system, build the capacity required to maximise its benefits and take ownership of the Performance Management System.
Digital Transition Saves Over N400m
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, said full implementation of the ECM began on September 30, 2025, following an earlier pilot phase.
He said the initiative represented a shift from predominantly paper-based processes towards a more digital and responsive working environment.
According to Belgore, the ministry’s transition towards paperless operations has contributed to annual savings of more than N400 million, particularly through reduced stationery procurement.
“ECM has reduced our dependence on physical files, strengthened document tracking and accessibility and supported faster decision making,” he said.
Belgore disclosed that more than 90 desktop computers and 30 laptops were distributed to departments in February 2026.
He said the ministry’s focus would now move from adopting the system to optimising its use.
1,200 Staff Onboarded, 669,108 Pages Digitised
Head of the Information and Communication Technology Department, Dr Amiolemen Osagie, said 1,200 staff members had been onboarded onto the ECM platform.
He disclosed that 6,018 legacy files containing 80,224 documents and 669,108 pages had been digitised and stored on the ECM database.
According to Osagie, the system has improved the accessibility, retrieval, movement and tracking of official documents.
He added that ECM had strengthened collaboration between departments, document security, institutional records management, accountability and transparency.
Civil Service Commends Digital Transformation
Representing the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Danjuma Kalba, Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, congratulated the ministry on the milestone.
Kalba said the ECM initiative demonstrated the potential of digital technology when leadership provides policy direction, institutions take ownership and public servants embrace innovation.
“The ECM initiative demonstrates that when leadership provides direction, institutions take ownership and public servants embrace innovation technology can fundamentally transform the way government works,” he said.
He stressed that digital transformation goes beyond acquiring technology and requires changes in how government institutions operate.
Kalba urged the ministry to make its second year of ECM implementation a period of deeper adoption, wider integration and stronger digital competencies.
The anniversary also featured the presentation of awards to departments and staff members recognised for outstanding performance in using the ECM platform.
