Manny Ita –
The Federal Government has approved an exit benefit scheme designed to improve the retirement welfare of civil servants who have devoted their productive years to public service and national development.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation said the scheme is intended to strengthen the financial security of retiring officers and enhance their post-service benefits.
“The exit benefit scheme significantly enhances the retirement package of our officers and boosts confidence in the federal government’s commitment to their welfare,” the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said.
According to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the approval followed recommendations from an inter-ministerial technical committee established to review retirement welfare in the federal civil service.
The committee worked with several government institutions, including the National Pension Commission, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to develop a sustainable framework for implementing the scheme.
The office explained that the collaboration was aimed at ensuring that the gratuity structure aligns with existing fiscal realities while strengthening the long-term financial security of retiring civil servants.
Reacting to the development, Mrs Walson-Jack commended the Federal Executive Council for approving the initiative, describing it as a strong signal of the government’s recognition of the role civil servants play in national development.
She noted that the approval reflects the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of federal public servants and rewarding years of service to the country.
Mrs Walson-Jack added that the scheme would significantly improve retirement packages for federal employees while also boosting morale across the civil service.
In 2025, a report by Nairametrics stated that the Federal Executive Council had earlier approved a N58.47 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The approval was granted at a special meeting of the council in Abuja and confirmed by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, during a post-meeting briefing.
Mr Yakubu said the proposal aligns with the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper reviewed by the council as part of preparations for the 2026 budget.
