FEC Approves Gratuity for Federal Civil Servants
By Momodu Favour
The Federal Executive Council has approved a new exit benefit scheme granting retiring federal civil servants a gratuity equivalent to 100 per cent of their total annual emoluments.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, noting that the scheme took effect from January 1, 2026.
According to the statement, the initiative is aimed at strengthening the welfare structure of the federal civil service and ensuring that officers who have served the nation for at least 10 years retire with improved financial security.
The office explained that the approval followed recommendations by an inter-ministerial technical committee set up by the civil service leadership to develop a sustainable framework for the scheme.
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.
Under the new arrangement, retiring federal civil servants in treasury-funded ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies will receive a gratuity equivalent to one full year of their salary package.
The new exit benefit will complement the existing Contributory Pension Scheme, which has served as the country’s primary retirement framework for federal workers.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, commended the council for approving the scheme, describing it as a significant step toward recognising the contributions of public servants.
“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.
Walson-Jack added that the exit benefit scheme would significantly enhance the retirement package of civil servants and strengthen confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
She also noted that the initiative aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at building a more motivated, performance-driven and people-centred civil service.
The reintroduction of gratuity for federal civil servants comes 22 years after the introduction of the contributory pension system, which replaced the old pension arrangement and removed gratuity payments for many retirees.
According to the civil service chief, detailed implementation guidelines for the scheme will be issued in due course.
