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 announcement was made on Friday by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to the statement, the scheme will take effect from January 1, 2026, and will apply to officers who have served for at least 10 years in treasury-funded ministries, extra-ministerial departments, and agencies.
The approval followed what officials described as extensive deliberations and technical input from an inter-ministerial technical committee. The committee worked alongside key government institutions including 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 implementing the scheme.
The Exit Benefit Scheme is designed as an enhancement to the existing Contributory Pension Scheme, with the aim of strengthening retirement benefits and providing a stronger financial safety net for federal civil servants after years of service.
Speaking on the development, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, described the approval as a major milestone that recognises the dedication and sacrifices of civil servants.
She noted that the initiative aligns with the ongoing civil service reform agenda aimed at building a motivated, performance-driven, and people-centred public service.
“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,” Walson-Jack said.
“The Exit Benefit Scheme significantly enhances the retirement package of our officers and boosts confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to their welfare.”
The development also marks 22 years since the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria, which transformed the country’s pension system for public sector workers.
