- FEC approves new gratuity scheme for federal civil servants.
- Retirees will receive 100% of their total annual emolument as exit benefit.
- The scheme will take effect from January 1, 2026.
- Civil servants with at least 10 years of service qualify for the benefit.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new exit benefit scheme for federal civil servants, granting retirees a gratuity equal to 100 percent of their total annual emolument in a move aimed at improving welfare and financial security after retirement.
The development was announced by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.
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The statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, explained that the new federal civil servants gratuity scheme will officially take effect on January 1, 2026.
According to the statement, the initiative is designed to strengthen the welfare system for public servants and ensure they receive better financial support after leaving active service.
Under the approved scheme, federal civil servants who have served for a minimum of 10 years will qualify to receive the gratuity upon retirement.
The payment will come in addition to benefits already provided under the existing contributory pension scheme, thereby increasing the retirement package available to government workers.
Officials said the decision followed months of consultation and technical reviews carried out by an inter-ministerial technical committee established by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The committee worked closely with key institutions including the National Pension Commission, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to design what was described as a sustainable framework for implementing the scheme.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, praised the Federal Executive Council for approving the policy, describing it as a significant milestone for civil service welfare in Nigeria.
“This approval is a profound acknowledgement of the invaluable contributions of our civil servants who have devoted their productive years to public service and national development,” she said.
She explained that the federal civil servants gratuity scheme would greatly improve retirement benefits and strengthen confidence in the government’s commitment to supporting its workforce.
“The exit benefit scheme significantly enhances the retirement package of our officers and boosts confidence in the federal government’s commitment to their welfare,” Walson-Jack added.
She also noted that the policy aligns with ongoing efforts to reform the civil service and create a more motivated and efficient public sector workforce.
According to her, detailed guidelines for the implementation of the new gratuity scheme for federal civil servants will be released in due course.