Despite efforts to expand its housing loan scheme, the Federal Government says a large number of civil servants remain unable to access the facility.
Hajiya Ahmed, Executive Secretary of the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, described the trend as worrisome. She explained that financial pressures and existing commitments have continued to limit eligibility for many workers.
At the Permanent Secretaries’ Quarterly Forum with Union Leaders, Ahmed revealed that the board had raised its loan ceiling to ₦20 million for senior staff and introduced a special package for officers on Grade Levels 8 to 14.
She further disclosed that partnerships with mortgage banks and private developers were being pursued to make home ownership easier for federal employees.
Declaring the forum open, Patience Onyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, said the engagement was designed to foster dialogue between the government and unions. She noted that sustained discussions help improve welfare, industrial peace, and productivity.
Onyekunle listed ongoing initiatives under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025), including group life assurance, a ₦750 billion pension bond, and welfare reforms to support workers.
The Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) also announced plans to digitise its claims process, ensuring faster compensation for workplace accidents and deaths.
Union leaders welcomed the initiatives but pressed for reforms in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). They stressed that delays and bottlenecks discourage workers from seeking timely medical care.
