The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is taking steps to ensure retiring civil servants have a fulfilling, financially secure and purposeful life after leaving active service….
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is taking steps to ensure retiring civil servants have a fulfilling, financially secure and purposeful life after leaving active service.
Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission (FCT-CSC), Emeka Ezeh, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday while opening a pre-retirement workshop for retiring civil servants, themed “How to Triumph in Retirement.”
Ezeh said the workshop, organised in partnership with the Office of the Head of Service, FCTA, was designed to equip retiring workers with practical strategies for navigating life after government service.
He noted that officers who had spent between 35 and 40 years in active service, or reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 to 65, often faced anxiety about the future.
He said proactive guidance was therefore necessary to help retirees make the transition into a productive and rewarding phase of life.
According to Ezeh, the workshop was the first collaborative initiative between the Commission and the Office of the Head of Service, reflecting a joint commitment to protecting the welfare of retiring public servants.
He said the initiative was also in line with Section 7c(ii) of the Commission’s Establishment Act, which mandates the body to advise the FCT Minister on conditions of service.
“A well-motivated workforce remains the bedrock of public sector productivity,” Ezeh said.
The chairman also highlighted recent reforms within the FCT Civil Service, saying the Commission had introduced measures aimed at strengthening merit, transparency and administrative discipline.
He said a comprehensive staff verification exercise had harmonised personnel data across the FCTA into “a single, secure and coherent central database” under the Commission’s oversight.
Ezeh added that the Commission had cleared a long-standing backlog of promotion exercises covering 2023, 2024 and 2025, helping to resolve career progression challenges for workers.
“The integration of Computer-Based Testing for promotion examinations is also a major leap forward, ensuring the swift release of results, eliminating sharp practices, and instilling transparency in career advancements,” he said.
He also announced the rollout of official FCT-CSC guidelines on appointment, promotion and discipline, alongside two published annual reports.
Ezeh said a Standard Operating Procedure for conversion, upgrading, advancement and skipping was also nearing completion.
Attributing the reforms to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Ezeh said the administration had created new career pathways for workers.
He said the pathways would allow FCT workers to progress to positions such as Permanent Secretary and Head of Service.
He thanked Wike and Acting Head of Service, Nancy Nathan, for their support and announced that the pre-retirement training would become an annual programme.
Nathan, in her remarks, commended the retiring officers for their years of dedication and contributions to the development and governance of the FCT.
She assured them that retirement from active government service would not erase the value of their experience.
“While their names may eventually leave the active government payroll, their developmental blueprints, institutional wisdom, and years of hard work would remain permanently embedded in the territory’s progress,” she said.
Nathan urged the retirees to view retirement as a transition into a new phase of life, rather than an end to their relevance.
She encouraged them to deploy their experience through mentorship, community development and entrepreneurial ventures.
“To ensure holistic readiness, the training programme was structured around critical pillars, including strategic financial management of terminal benefits, sound investment choices, physical and mental health maintenance, and impactful community engagement,” she said.
Nathan said the programme was also designed to help retirees manage lifestyle changes, mitigate financial risks and maintain strong social networks.
She urged the retiring workers to embrace purposeful living, noting that “true triumph in post-service life occurs when contribution replaces compensation and personal fulfilment replaces daily routine.”
On retirement benefits, the Acting Head of Service assured participants that the FCTA was working with relevant agencies to streamline the process and ensure prompt payment of their entitlements.
“The seminar is designed to offer participants actionable frameworks to manage lifestyle changes, mitigate financial risks, and maintain strong social connection networks,” she added.
Participants expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying the practical strategies provided at the workshop would help reduce anxiety about retirement and give them greater confidence as they prepare for life after active service.
