Nigeria Introduces Gratuity Scheme for State House Retirees

The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced the introduction of a new gratuity payment scheme for federal civil servants, specifically targeting retirees from the State House. This decision was revealed by Temitop Peter Fashedemi, the Permanent Secretary of the State House, during a send-off ceremony for retiring officials on Thursday in Abuja.

The new scheme will take effect on January 1, 2026, and will provide retirees who have served at least ten years with a gratuity equivalent to one year's basic salary. This initiative is designed to complement the contributory pension scheme established in 2004, which does not currently offer gratuity payments.

Fashedemi emphasized the significance of this decision for the welfare of public servants, ensuring they receive adequate recognition and support upon retirement. The approval was based on recommendations from an inter-ministerial technical committee and aims to improve the financial security of retired civil servants.