The Federal Government has expressed concern that many of its employees cannot benefit from housing loan schemes due to heavy salary deductions from multiple commercial loans.

Executive Secretary of the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Hajiya Ahmed, explained that the widespread patronage of short-term lending agencies has left many civil servants financially overstretched and ineligible for housing support.

Speaking at the Permanent Secretaries’ Quarterly Forum with Union Leaders, organised by the Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ahmed described the situation as disturbing.

“Many workers have mortgaged their salaries by taking several quick loans from commercial agencies. With such deductions, it becomes impossible for them to repay housing loans. This is very sad,” she said.

Ahmed noted 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 added that partnerships with mortgage institutions and private developers are underway to make homes more affordable for workers.

Declaring the forum open, the Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office, Patience Onyekunle, said the gathering was aimed at enhancing dialogue between the government and unions on welfare, industrial harmony, and productivity.

She highlighted initiatives introduced under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025), including group life assurance for federal workers and the President’s ₦750 billion pension bond bill currently before the National Assembly.

Onyekunle also listed other welfare measures, such as the revival of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), provision of free medical services at the HCSF complex, review of the recognition and reward policy, and an open-door engagement approach with labour unions.

Deputy General Manager of the NSITF, Usman Tumsah, said the Fund was digitising applications and simplifying claims to ensure timely compensation for workplace accidents and deaths. He urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to fully comply with the scheme to guarantee proper employee coverage.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation Union, Chika Ukachukwu, praised the government’s welfare initiatives but called for urgent reforms in the National Health Insurance Authority scheme.

She criticised delays in accessing care under NHIA, stressing the need to eliminate barriers that discourage workers from seeking treatment. “Sometimes, the procedures for accessing medication and checkups are so discouraging. The system can be improved by reducing these bottlenecks,” she added.