A ₦10 billion housing loan program has been approved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration with the goal of increasing civil officials’ access to property ownership nationwide.
This was revealed on Friday at an ongoing press conference in Abuja by Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Federation’s Civil Service.
Walson-Jack clarified that the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria would carry out the program.
A ₦10 billion housing loan program has been approved by the federal government to increase civil officials’ access to property ownership. The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria will enable this loan, she stated.
A Location They Can Call Their Own
The Head of Service emphasized how crucial home ownership is to raising employee satisfaction, stability, and productivity in the civil service.
“A person who owns their own home is said to stand differently. “A civil servant comes to work with a different swagger, with more stability, more focus, and more purpose when they know that their family has a place they can call home,” she said.
According to Walson-Jack, the housing program is more than just a welfare program; it is a reflection of the administration’s larger governing perspective.
What you are seeing is a philosophy rather than just a welfare package. This administration operates under the premise that a well-supported civil servant is a more effective civil servant, and a stronger Nigeria results from a more effective civil service, she stated.
She also emphasized current initiatives to modernize the public sector, such as plans to switch to a more computerized and effective system.
Walson-Jack continued, “We are concurrently constructing the civil service of the future, a service that is digital and paperless, efficient and transparent, accountable and innovation-driven.”
“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 reiterated.
The Head of Service emphasized that cooperation across government agencies was responsible for the accomplishments thus far.
“No single institution was responsible for the accomplishments we are honoring today. They are the result of intentional, ongoing cooperation between ministries, extra-ministerial departments, and agencies, she clarified.
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 were among the organizations she mentioned as being involved in the reforms.
“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,” the speaker stated.
Walson-Jack called on agencies, departments, and ministries to continue using a collaborative approach in all facets 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,” the speaker stated.
Workers’ Day Will Have Particular Importance
The Head of Service stated that civil personnel will find this year’s Workers’ Day commemoration especially significant.
“Civil servants can now, for the first time in a long time, point to specific, 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,” she continued.
Walson-Jack acknowledged the sacrifices made by civil officials in spite of difficult circumstances and praised their commitment and fortitude.
“This is your time, your moment, your season of acknowledgment, appreciation, and renewed purpose, civil servants. The sacrifices you’ve made, the hard hours you’ve put in, and the professionalism you’ve shown even in trying situations have not gone unnoticed,” she said.
