FG deepens public service reforms with ₦10bn housing loan

The Federal Government has advanced its ongoing public service reform agenda with the approval of a ₦10 billion housing loan scheme for civil servants, positioning the initiative as part of a broader effort to build a more efficient, technology-driven and performance-oriented bureaucracy.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said in Abuja on Friday that the housing scheme is not merely a welfare intervention but a strategic reform tool aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and improving service delivery across ministries, departments and agencies.

According to her, the programme—implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board—is designed to enhance stability within the workforce, a key pillar in the government’s vision for a more effective civil service.

She explained that the reform agenda goes beyond housing, encompassing a transition to a digital, paperless and transparent system that promotes accountability and innovation in public administration.

“What you are witnessing is not simply a welfare package; it is a philosophy,” Walson-Jack said, noting that a well-supported workforce is critical to achieving a high-performing public service.

She added that efforts are underway to modernise operations within the civil service, leveraging technology to improve efficiency and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically slowed governance processes.

The Head of Service also underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in driving reform outcomes, citing the roles of key government institutions such as the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Budget Office, and the Office of the Accountant General in aligning policy implementation.

“This is the power of collaboration across government — institutions working in concert towards a shared national purpose,” she said.

Walson-Jack called on all MDAs to sustain the reform momentum by embracing coordinated action, particularly in areas of policy execution and service delivery.

She noted that the renewed focus on workers’ welfare and system efficiency comes at a critical time, as the government seeks to rebuild public trust and reposition the civil service as a driver of national development.

With the reforms, she said, civil servants are expected to operate in an environment that not only supports their personal wellbeing but also equips them with the tools and systems needed to perform optimally in a rapidly evolving governance landscape.