SeamlessHR, a Nigerian HR-tech startup, is set to expand its customer base by targeting government agencies. This move positions the company to tap into the growing public sector market. With over 720,000 civil servants, the Nigerian government represents a significant opportunity for SeamlessHR, offering a stable and high-value market for long-term growth.
Primarily serving mid-to-large enterprises, SeamlessHR is now in talks with several ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), to onboard them onto its platform, said an ex-employee with knowledge of the matter. The startup already provides its performance management services to Nigeria’s Port Authority (NPA) and its recruitment solution to the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, said the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Deji Lana.
Lana told that the company’s success in the private sector has built a solid foundation for its transition into the public sector. “If we’ve done this for the private sector, and it has worked, why can’t we do it for government as well?” Lana explained. There might be some unique configurations, but we’re confident the platform can adapt to the specific needs of government agencies.”
Aiming to address long-standing issues like transparency, ghost workers, and unequal distribution in the public sector, SeamlessHR believes its platform can help streamline human resource management. “We need to play in that space to ensure that some of the things many people complain about—like fairness, transparency, and equity in assigning resources—can be solved on the platform,” Lana added.
The move into the government sector comes as the HR-tech space in Nigeria becomes increasingly competitive. New players like PaidHR, Bento, Ropay, WorkPay, Cloudenly and NotchHR have emerged, challenging SeamlessHR’s dominance. However, Lana remains confident, pointing out that SeamlessHR’s biggest competitors are global HR-tech giants like SAP, Zoho, and Oracle, who have already built end-to-end HR solutions at scale.
“From the start, we set out to build a complete HR tech solution,” Lana said. “Some of our global competitors have already done that, but our deep understanding of local challenges gives us an edge.”
The Nigerian government sector represents a particularly attractive opportunity, with agencies like Remita—responsible for handling transactions worth approximately ₦21 trillion annually—serving as a prime example of the market’s potential for startups. SeamlessHR sees itself playing a critical role in the government’s digital transformation by providing efficient, scalable HR solutions.
However, breaking into the government sector is not without challenges. Government agencies typically rely on legacy systems that have years of accumulated data and integrations with other platforms. Migrating to SeamlessHR’s system could be a complex and costly process. But Lana is confident that the company can ease this transition. “Government organizations don’t need to switch all at once,” he said. “They can try out any of our individual modules before fully transitioning.”
Another hurdle SeamlessHR will face is the long sales cycle often associated with government contracts. The public sector procurement process can be slow and bureaucratic, which could delay SeamlessHR’s revenue generation. Still, the potential for long-term contracts makes the effort worthwhile.
In addition to expanding into the government sector, SeamlessHR is also exploring new technology integrations, including artificial intelligence (AI). Lana hinted at building an AI-powered recruitment agent that could conduct interviews, further enhancing the platform’s capabilities.
As the company looks to the future, it remains focused on helping Nigeria’s public sector modernize its HR functions. SeamlessHR’s ability to overcome bureaucratic complexities, win government contracts, and migrate public institutions off legacy systems will determine its success in the sector.
