The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new Exit Benefit Scheme that will grant retiring federal civil servants a gratuity equivalent to 100 percent of their total annual emolument.
The scheme, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, is designed to strengthen the welfare system within the civil service and ensure that officers who have served the nation for a minimum of ten years retire with improved financial security.
The approval followed extensive consultations by an inter-ministerial technical committee set up by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The committee worked in collaboration with 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 the scheme’s implementation.
According to the government, the initiative is intended to complement the existing Contributory Pension Scheme by providing an additional financial safety net for federal civil servants working in treasury-funded ministries, extra-ministerial departments, and agencies.
The Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, commended FEC for approving the scheme, describing it as a significant step toward recognising the contributions of civil servants to national development.
She noted that the decision reflects the commitment of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improving the welfare of public servants and strengthening confidence in the civil service.
Walson-Jack added that detailed implementation guidelines for the scheme would be released in due course.
The reintroduction of gratuity payments comes 22 years after the adoption of the contributory pension system and is expected to enhance retirement benefits for federal civil servants across the country.
Source: X | SundayDareSD
…..stay tuned for more!