FEC Approves 100% Gratuity for Retiring Federal Civil Servants in Historic Welfare Boost
In a landmark move aimed at strengthening the welfare of public servants, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the introduction of a new Exit Benefit Scheme that will grant retiring federal civil servants a gratuity equivalent to 100 percent of their total annual emolument.
The approval marks a major milestone in the Federal Government’s effort to enhance the retirement benefits of workers in the public service, coming 22 years after the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja, the scheme will take effect from January 1, 2026, and will apply to federal civil servants who have completed a minimum of ten years of service.
The initiative is designed to ensure that retiring officers leave public service with greater financial security and dignity, while strengthening long-term income stability for workers in treasury-funded Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, described the approval as a historic and morale-boosting decision that demonstrates the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to the welfare of civil servants.
She noted that the new scheme was developed after extensive consultations and technical work by an inter-ministerial committee led by her office, in collaboration with the National Pension Commission, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
According to her, the Exit Benefit Scheme will serve as a strategic enhancement to the existing pension structure, providing a significant financial cushion for civil servants upon retirement.
“This approval is a profound acknowledgement of the invaluable contributions of our civil servants who have devoted their productive years to national development,” Walson-Jack stated.
She added that the reform aligns with the broader public service transformation agenda of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at building a more motivated, performance-driven, and people-centred civil service.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service said detailed implementation guidelines for the scheme will be released in due course as part of efforts to ensure smooth rollout across the federal civil service.
The development is widely seen as a major policy shift in Nigeria’s public service welfare system, offering renewed hope to thousands of federal workers preparing for retirement.
