The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of an enhanced gratuity for retiring federal civil servants.
Ajaero gave the commendation during an interview in Abuja, describing the decision as a positive development that would support workers at the end of their service.
The Federal Government recently approved a new exit benefit scheme under which retiring civil servants will receive gratuity equivalent to 100 percent of their total annual emolument.
The gratuity will be paid in addition to pensions under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The scheme will take effect from January 1, 2026, and will apply to workers who have served for at least 10 years.
According to Ajaero, gratuity is different from pension because it serves as a form of appreciation for workers who have served their employers diligently over the years.
He explained that while the contributory pension scheme supports retirees over time, gratuity provides immediate financial support after leaving service.
The labour leader said the payment would help retirees manage their affairs and possibly start new ventures while waiting for their pensions.
Ajaero also noted that gratuity offers retirees a sense of security and dignity immediately after retirement.
He stressed that gratuity and pension should operate independently to ensure that retirees are fully supported.
The NLC president added that there was no law abolishing gratuity in the civil service and called on the government to address cases where retirees were previously denied their entitlements.
He urged authorities to ensure fairness by settling gratuity owed to affected retirees.
Ajaero also encouraged organisations in the private sector to adopt similar gratuity arrangements for their employees to promote fairness and appreciation across all sectors.
