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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has unveiled a structured plan to prepare retiring civil servants for life after active service, with emphasis on financial security, health, investment and continued relevance.
Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission (FCT-CSC), Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a pre-retirement workshop organised in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service, FCTA.
The workshop, themed “How to Triumph in Retirement,” is the first joint initiative between the two offices and is designed to equip workers approaching retirement with practical strategies for navigating the transition from active public service.
Ezeh said the initiative was necessary because officers who had spent between 35 and 40 years in service, or attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 to 65, often faced uncertainty and anxiety about their future.
He urged participants to begin early preparations for a post-service life that would be productive, financially stable and fulfilling.
According to him, the initiative falls within the commission’s mandate under Section 7c(ii) of its Establishment Act, which empowers it to advise the FCT Minister on conditions of service for employees.
Ezeh said the commission considered the welfare of workers beyond their years in active service as an important component of a motivated and productive workforce.
He also used the occasion to highlight reforms undertaken by the commission, including a comprehensive staff verification exercise that harmonised personnel records across the FCTA into a central database.
He said the commission had also cleared outstanding promotion exercises covering 2023, 2024 and 2025, thereby addressing career progression bottlenecks affecting workers.
The chairman added that the introduction of Computer-Based Testing for promotion examinations was intended to accelerate the release of results, eliminate sharp practices and strengthen transparency in career advancement.
Ezeh further disclosed that the commission had released official guidelines on appointment, promotion and discipline, as well as two annual reports, while a Standard Operating Procedure covering conversion, upgrading, advancement and skipping was nearing completion.
He said the reforms had also expanded career opportunities within the FCTA, allowing civil servants to progress to senior positions, including Permanent Secretary and Head of Service.
Ezeh attributed the developments to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, while appreciating the minister and Acting Head of Service, Mrs Nancy Nathan, for their support.
He announced that the pre-retirement workshop would become an annual programme.
In her remarks, Nathan assured the retiring workers that leaving the government payroll would not mean an end to their relevance or contribution to society.
She said their institutional knowledge, experience and contributions to the development of the FCT would remain valuable even after retirement.
Nathan urged the retirees to view retirement as an opportunity to deploy their accumulated experience to mentorship, community development and entrepreneurship.
She said the workshop was structured around key areas including management of terminal benefits, investment decisions, physical and mental well-being, and community engagement.
According to her, the objective was to provide retirees with practical tools for managing lifestyle changes, reducing financial risks and maintaining meaningful social connections.
“Retirement should never be viewed as an end to personal relevance, but rather as a strategic repositioning to deploy decades of accrued wisdom toward mentorship, community development, and entrepreneurial ventures,” she said.
Nathan also assured the retiring officers that the FCTA was working with relevant agencies to streamline processes and facilitate the prompt payment of retirement entitlements.
Participants at the workshop expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying the practical guidance would help reduce anxiety about life after active service and give them greater confidence in planning their future.
