By Clement John
The Federal Government has approved a ₦10 billion housing loan scheme aimed at expanding access to affordable home ownership for civil servants nationwide.
The announcement was made on Friday in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, who said the initiative forms part of broader reforms designed to improve welfare and strengthen efficiency within the public service.
According to her, the scheme will be implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, with the goal of easing the financial burden on workers seeking to own homes.
Walson-Jack said the policy is not only a welfare intervention but also a productivity measure, arguing that stable housing contributes to improved performance and morale among civil servants.
“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.
She added that home ownership plays a key role in shaping workers’ motivation and commitment, noting that it provides a sense of stability that reflects in workplace output.
“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 said.
Describing the initiative as part of a wider governance reform agenda, Walson-Jack stressed that the government is focused on building a more effective and motivated civil service.
“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 also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise the public service through digitisation, transparency, and innovation, aimed at creating a more efficient and accountable 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 added.
Walson-Jack further noted that the housing scheme was developed through inter-agency collaboration involving institutions such as the Budget Office and the Office of the Accountant General.
Looking ahead to Workers’ Day, she said the initiative adds renewed meaning to the celebration, as government reforms continue to target improved welfare for public servants.
“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,” she said.
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