By, Omowumi Hannah

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new Exit Benefit Scheme granting retiring federal civil servants a gratuity equivalent to 100% of their total annual emolument, a landmark move aimed at strengthening the welfare of public servants.

The approval, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, applies to federal civil servants who have completed a minimum of ten years of service. It marks a major milestone in the Federal Government’s effort to enhance retirement benefits, coming 22 years after the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, described the approval as “a historic and morale-boosting decision” demonstrating the government’s commitment to civil servants’ welfare.

She noted that the scheme was developed after extensive consultations and technical work by an inter-ministerial committee.

“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.

The scheme is part of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public service transformation agenda, aimed at building a more motivated and people-centred civil service.

Meanwhile the statement noted that detailed implementation guidelines will be released soon to ensure smooth rollout across the federal civil service as the move is seen as a major policy shift in Nigeria’s public service welfare system, offering renewed hope to thousands of federal workers preparing for retirement.