FG approves ₦10bn housing loan scheme for civil servants

The Federal Government has approved a ₦10 billion housing loan scheme aimed at improving access to home ownership for civil servants, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, announced on Friday in Abuja.

Speaking during an ongoing press briefing, Walson-Jack said the initiative would be implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board.

According to her, the scheme is designed to enhance stability and productivity within the civil service by enabling workers to own homes.

“The Federal Government has approved a ₦10 billion housing loan scheme to improve access to home ownership for civil servants. This loan will be facilitated through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board,” she said.

She emphasised the broader impact of home ownership on worker morale and efficiency, noting that secure housing can significantly influence performance.

“There is a saying that a person who owns their own home stands differently. When a civil servant knows that their family has a place they can call their own, they come to work with a different swagger — with more stability, more focus and more purpose,” Walson-Jack added.

Describing the initiative as part of a wider reform agenda, the Head of Service said the housing scheme goes beyond welfare and reflects the administration’s governing philosophy.

“What you are witnessing is not simply a welfare package; it is a philosophy. It is the operating belief of this administration that a well-supported civil servant is a more effective civil servant, and a more effective civil service delivers a stronger Nigeria,” she said.

Walson-Jack further highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise the public service, including a transition toward a more digital and efficient system.

“We are simultaneously building the civil service of tomorrow — a service that is digital and paperless, efficient and transparent, accountable and innovation-driven,” she stated.

She reaffirmed her commitment to improving the capacity and welfare of civil servants across the country.

“As Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, I am committed to ensuring that every civil servant earns better and grows better — with the skills, tools and institutional support to reach their full potential,” she said.

The Head of Service also underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in achieving the reforms being celebrated.

“The achievements we are celebrating today did not come through the effort of a single institution. They are the product of deliberate, sustained collaboration across ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies,” she explained.

She listed key government institutions involved in the collaborative effort, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

“This is the power of collaboration across government — not working in silos, but institutions working in concert, each contributing its statutory mandate towards a shared national purpose,” Walson-Jack said.

She called on all ministries, departments and agencies to sustain the collaborative momentum across all aspects of governance.

“I call on every MDA to carry this spirit of collaboration forward — beyond welfare, into service delivery, policy implementation, and every area where whole-of-government action can make a difference for Nigeria,” she urged.

Looking ahead to Workers’ Day on May 1, Walson-Jack said this year’s commemoration would hold special significance for Nigerian civil servants.

“For the first time in a long time, civil servants can point to concrete, contemporaneous evidence that their contributions are valued at the highest levels,” she said.

She noted that Workers’ Day is not only a time to reflect on past struggles but also an opportunity to renew commitments to workers’ welfare.

“Workers’ Day is not just about remembering the struggles of the past; it is about renewing the promise for the future — that those who serve this nation will be treated with justice, fairness and gratitude,” she said.

Walson-Jack praised civil servants for their dedication and resilience, acknowledging their contributions despite challenging conditions.

“To every civil servant, this is your time, your moment, your season of recognition, reward and renewed purpose. The sacrifices you have made the long hours, the professionalism exercised even in difficult circumstances have not been invisible,” she added.