President Bola Tinubu‘s government has approved a ₦10 billion housing loan scheme aimed at improving access to home ownership for civil servants across the country.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this on Friday during an ongoing press briefing in Abuja.
Walson-Jack explained that the initiative would be implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and 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.
The Head of Service emphasized the importance of home ownership in improving worker morale, stability, and efficiency within the civil service.
“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 stated.
Walson-Jack described the housing scheme as a reflection of the administration’s broader governance philosophy, rather than just a welfare initiative.
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the public service, including plans to transition to 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,” Walson-Jack added.
Reaffirming her commitment, she said, “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.”
The Head of Service stressed that the achievements recorded so far were the result of collaboration across government institutions.
“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 institutions involved in the reforms, 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,” she said.
Walson-Jack urged ministries, departments, and agencies to sustain the collaborative approach in all areas 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 said.
Looking ahead to Workers’ Day, the Head of Service said this year’s celebration would be particularly meaningful 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 noted.
She added, “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.”
Walson-Jack commended civil servants for their dedication and resilience, acknowledging their sacrifices 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 said.
NaijaNews/ Tunmise Adesanmi
