The Federal Government has rolled out a sweeping package of welfare reforms for civil servants, featuring enhanced allowances and a N10 billion housing loan scheme aimed at easing economic pressures and improving living standards.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced the measures during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, describing the initiative as a clear signal of the administration’s renewed focus on workers’ welfare.
Addressing public servants directly, she declared, “This is your moment,” adding that the reforms are intended to match their commitment to national service with concrete support.
Walson-Jack attributed the development to the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the current administration has fostered conditions for meaningful improvements in the lives of government workers. “This marks a decisive shift from policy promises to tangible benefits,” she added.
At the heart of the reforms is a new Exit Benefit Scheme, which guarantees 100 per cent of a retiring civil servant’s total annual emoluments. Scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, the initiative is designed to ensure financial security and dignity for retirees.
The government has also fully operationalised the Employee Compensation Scheme to support workers affected by job-related injuries, disabilities, or death. According to Walson-Jack, the scheme strengthens existing insurance frameworks while broadening protection for civil servants and their families.
In the area of training and professional development, officers attending programmes at designated government institutions will now receive full Duty Tour Allowance, “regardless of whether travel is required.”
Further adjustments include an upward review of the Peculiar Allowance across all grade levels, as well as increases in Duty Tour Allowance, estacode, and book allowances “to reflect current economic realities.”
A major highlight of the package is the N10 billion housing loan scheme, expected to expand access to home ownership for civil servants nationwide.