By OKON OKON

The Federal Government says guidelines for the payment of 100 per cent gratuity to retiring federal civil servants will be released soon.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

She said payment would commence immediately after the release of the guidelines.

Walson-Jack said beneficiaries would include officers who retired from Jan. 1, 2026, as well as those retiring subsequently.

“Since the pronouncement on the exit benefit scheme, we stated clearly in the circular issued that guidelines would be coming out.

“I can confirm that the guidelines will be out very soon, and once they are out, payments will begin for those who have retired since Jan. 1 and for those retiring onwards,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had earlier approved a new exit benefit scheme granting retiring federal civil servants gratuity equivalent to 100 per cent of their total annual emolument.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms Omolola Oloworaran, said retirees with complete documentation would receive their benefits within 72 hours of exit from service.

“It is a process within 72 hours. If you have done your enrolment and all your documents are complete, within 72 hours you are paid your benefits,” she said.

Oloworaran said government was also working to introduce a minimum pension guarantee to improve the welfare of retirees receiving low monthly pensions.

She said the initiative would ensure that retirees live with dignity after years of service.

According to her, the government has also strengthened regulatory supervision of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to safeguard pension funds and ensure better returns on investments.

She added that a one-time enrolment process would soon be introduced to enable timely payment of accrued rights and allow pension contributions to be invested earlier for greater returns.

Oloworaran urged civil servants to complete their enrolment promptly once the circular was issued.

She said the reforms were aimed at ending delays in pension payments and improving retirement benefits for workers. (NAN)

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