The Federal Government has announced the approval of a comprehensive increase in allowances and welfare benefits for civil servants across all grade levels, introducing a new retirement exit scheme that provides 100 per cent of annual emoluments as a package for departing workers, approving full Duty Tour Allowance even for training attended within an officer’s base city, and revising virtually all allowances listed under the Public Service Rules in a move aimed at boosting morale across a public service grappling with the impact of rising living costs.
The announcement was made at a press briefing on Friday in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, who outlined the reforms endorsed by the Federal Executive Council and described them as the government’s commitment to ensuring dignity for public servants during service and in retirement.
“No public servant should leave service without adequate financial support,” Walson-Jack stated, emphasising the administration’s recognition that conditions of service must reflect the economic realities facing workers.
The review affects workers under two major salary structures that together cover the vast majority of federal civil servants.
The Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure covers the core civil service, including ministries, departments, and agencies. The Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure covers workers in research institutions, universities, and allied bodies.
By targeting both structures, the government has ensured what Walson-Jack described as “a broad-based impact across all cadres of the civil service,” meaning the benefits extend from the lowest-ranked junior staff to the most senior officers.
The revised peculiar allowances have been structured to apply across all grade levels, resulting in increased earnings for both junior and senior officers.
Peculiar allowances are additional payments tied to specific roles, responsibilities, or conditions of service that go beyond basic salary. By extending revisions across all grade levels, the government has ensured that the benefits are not concentrated at the top but reach workers at every level of the civil service hierarchy.
While the specific percentage increases were not disclosed at the briefing, Walson-Jack confirmed that the revisions represent meaningful improvements in take-home pay for workers across the board.
The government approved an upward review of several key allowances that directly affect civil servants’ working conditions and professional development.
The Duty Tour Allowance, paid to civil servants who travel on official assignments, has been increased. The estacode allowance, paid to officers travelling abroad on official duty, has similarly been revised upward. And the book allowance, which supports professional reading and research, has been improved.
Walson-Jack stated that “virtually all allowances listed under the Public Service Rules are being revised,” indicating that the changes go far beyond the specific categories highlighted and extend to the full range of entitlements provided for under the rules governing the civil service.
Among the most significant and potentially popular changes is the approval of 100 per cent Duty Tour Allowance for civil servants attending approved training programmes, regardless of whether the training requires travel.
“Even if you are based in Abuja and attend training within Abuja, you are entitled to full DTA,” Walson-Jack stated.
This provision addresses a longstanding grievance among civil servants who attend training programmes organised within their duty station but previously received no DTA because they were not technically travelling. The new policy recognises that training involves time away from regular duties and should be compensated regardless of location, a change that incentivises participation in professional development programmes and removes a financial disincentive that may have discouraged some officers from attending training.
The most consequential reform for long-term welfare is the introduction of a new exit scheme for civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Under the new arrangement, retiring civil servants will receive 100 per cent of their total annual emoluments as an exit package, in addition to their pension entitlements under the CPS. The scheme takes effect from January 1, 2026, meaning it is already operational and will apply to all retirements from that date forward.
The total annual emoluments include basic salary plus all applicable allowances, meaning the exit package represents a substantial lump sum payment at retirement.
For a civil service that has historically struggled with the transition from employment to retirement, with many officers facing severe financial hardship upon leaving service, the exit scheme represents a significant safety net. Combined with pension payments, it provides departing officers with immediate financial resources to manage the transition period while their pension arrangements are being processed.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as “a step toward ensuring dignity in retirement,” acknowledging that the experience of many retirees, who face delays in pension processing, inadequate pension payments, and the sudden loss of the allowances that supplemented their income during service, has been a source of anxiety for serving officers.