FG Approves Huge Allowance Hikes and ₦10bn Housing Loan; Civil Servants to Get 100% Training Bonus and Massive Cash Exit Package Upon Retirement

The Federal Government has moved to significantly improve the financial standing of its workforce with the approval of a comprehensive welfare package designed to boost morale and productivity across the public service. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, announced the reforms during a press briefing in Abuja today Friday, April 24, 2026, describing the move as a fulfillment of the administration’s commitment to a well-supported and efficient workforce.

Central to the new reforms is a sweeping review of peculiar allowances, which will see an immediate increase in the take-home pay of civil servants across all grade levels. The adjustments affect a wide range of official entitlements, including estacode and book allowances, which have been raised to reflect the current economic realities of 2026. Notably, the government has removed the travel requirement for training bonuses; under the new “100% DTA” rule, any officer attending a certified training program will receive their full daily allowance regardless of whether they have traveled outside their base.

“We are sending a clear message that the government is committed to investing in its people,” Walson-Jack stated. “Financial inconvenience will no longer be a barrier to professional development.”

Beyond immediate earnings, the administration has introduced a landmark “Exit Benefit Scheme” for treasury-funded civil servants. Effective from January 1, 2026, any retiring officer under the Contributory Pension Scheme will receive a lump-sum payment equivalent to their full annual salary as a parting gift. This is intended to provide a financial cushion for retirees as they transition out of active service. To further stabilize the lives of workers, a ₦10 billion housing loan fund has also been unlocked, allowing civil servants to access low-interest credit for home ownership.

The announcement comes at a critical time as labor unions have intensified calls for wage adjustments in the face of rising living costs. By combining immediate allowance hikes with long-term housing and retirement benefits, the Presidency is betting on a “high-performance” civil service to drive the final phase of its development agenda ahead of the 2027 transition.