The Federal Government has approved a ₦10 billion housing loan scheme to enhance civil servants’ access to home ownership, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, announced on Friday in Abuja.
Speaking at a press briefing, Walson-Jack stated that the initiative would be implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board. She explained that the scheme aims to boost stability and productivity within the civil service by enabling workers to own their homes.
“This loan will be facilitated through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board,” she said, adding that secure housing significantly influences performance. “When a civil servant knows their family has a place they can call their own, they come to work with more stability, more focus and more purpose.”
Describing the plan as part of a broader reform agenda, Walson-Jack noted that the housing scheme reflects the administration’s governing philosophy. “What you are witnessing is not simply a welfare package; it is a philosophy. A well-supported civil servant is a more effective civil servant, and a more effective civil service delivers a stronger Nigeria.”
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise the public service, including a transition to a digital, paperless, and transparent system. “We are simultaneously building the civil service of tomorrow – efficient, accountable, and innovation-driven,” she said.
The Head of Service stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration, citing the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Budget Office, and the Office of the Accountant General as key partners. “This is the power of collaboration across government – institutions working in concert towards a shared national purpose.”
Looking ahead to Workers’ Day on May 1, Walson-Jack said this year’s commemoration would carry special significance. “For the first time in a long time, civil servants can point to concrete evidence that their contributions are valued at the highest levels.”
She praised civil servants for their dedication and resilience, adding: “To every civil servant, this is your moment of recognition, reward and renewed purpose. Your sacrifices have not been invisible.”
