The Federal Government has announced a N10 billion housing loan scheme as part of efforts to improve access to home ownership for civil servants in Nigeria.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, made this known during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja.
Walson-Jack said the initiative, designed to enhance stability and productivity within the civil service by enabling workers to own homes, would be implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board.
“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 said.
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.
She emphasized ongoing initiatives to modernize public service delivery through increased digitization and improved efficiency.
“We are building the civil service of the future, one that is paperless, transparent, effective, accountable, and driven by innovation,” she said.
As Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, she reiterated her dedication to enhancing both the skills and welfare of civil servants nationwide.
“I remain committed to ensuring every civil servant is better compensated and better equipped, with the training, resources, and institutional backing needed to fulfill their potential,” she stated.
She stressed that the reforms being celebrated are the result of sustained interagency cooperation, not the work of one body alone.
“Today’s milestones reflect deliberate, continuous collaboration among ministries, departments, and agencies,” she explained.
She cited the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Budget Office, and the Office of the Accountant General as key partners in the effort.
“This shows what happens when government institutions move beyond silos and align their statutory roles toward a common national goal,” Walson-Jack noted. She urged all MDAs to maintain that collaborative approach across all areas of governance.
“I encourage every MDA to extend this cooperation beyond welfare, into service delivery, policy execution, and any area where a whole-of-government approach can benefit Nigeria,” she said.
Ahead of Workers’ Day on May 1, Walson-Jack described this year’s event as particularly meaningful for civil servants.
“For the first time in years, civil servants have tangible, timely proof that their work is recognized at the highest levels,” she remarked.
She added that Workers’ Day should serve both as a reflection on past challenges and a recommitment to worker welfare.
“Workers’ Day is not only about honoring past struggles. It’s about reaffirming that those who serve Nigeria will be treated with fairness, justice, and appreciation,” she said.
Commending civil servants for their resilience, Walson-Jack acknowledged their efforts under difficult conditions, saying that their sacrifices had not gone unnoticed
