The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a ₦10 billion housing loan initiative aimed at helping civil servants secure home ownership.
The announcement was made in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, during a press briefing.
She explained that the programme will be implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board.
“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.
Walson-Jack noted that the initiative is designed to enhance stability within the civil service and improve productivity by making housing more accessible.
“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,” she added.
She described the scheme as part of broader reforms to strengthen the public service, emphasizing that it reflects the administration’s governance 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.
The Head of Service also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise the civil service into a digital, efficient, and transparent 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.
Reaffirming her commitment to workers’ welfare, she said the goal is to ensure civil servants are equipped with the tools and support needed to perform effectively.
“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.
Walson-Jack also credited the success of ongoing reforms to collaboration across government institutions, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Budget Office, and the Office of the Accountant General.
“This is the power of collaboration across government — not working in silos, but institutions working in concert,” she noted.
She urged ministries, departments, and agencies to sustain this collaborative approach across all areas of governance.
Looking ahead to Workers’ Day, she said this year’s celebration would be particularly significant for 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.
“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.”
