The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday endorsed a comprehensive new National Employment Policy designed to combat unemployment, alleviate poverty, and create sustainable economic opportunities across the country. This strategic move aims to address lingering joblessness by fostering an environment conducive to productive engagement and workforce inclusion.
Muhammad Dingyadi, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, revealed this while addressing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to Dingyadi, the newly approved policy provides a modernized framework for employment generation, incorporating innovative approaches to stimulate job creation and economic participation.
Explaining the rationale behind the update, the minister said the current employment policy had become outdated and no longer reflected present-day realities. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour and Employment initiated a comprehensive review to realign national employment strategies with emerging economic trends and labor market demands.
“Due to the gap between the previous policy framework and on-the-ground realities, the ministry undertook a revision of the national employment policy,” Dingyadi said. “This was essential to develop new methods that will better confront the twin challenges of joblessness and poverty, and at the same time, foster access to economic opportunities for Nigerians.”
He also added that in the coming weeks, Nigeria would proudly present its updated employment policy to global partners at the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference in Geneva. “In two or three weeks, we’ll attend the ILO meeting, and we’ll be proud to tell other countries that we have reviewed and updated our employment policy,” Dingyadi affirmed.
FEC Approves 2025/2026 Group Life Insurance Scheme for Federal Workers
In another significant development, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, announced the FEC’s approval of the Group Life Assurance Scheme for the 2025/2026 policy year. She said the scheme reinforces the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of federal employees.
The scheme, she explained, provides life insurance coverage for public servants across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). In the unfortunate event of a worker’s death, their next of kin would receive a financial benefit, helping families to manage the resulting economic hardship.
“This program is a strong indicator of how seriously President Bola Tinubu’s government views the welfare of civil servants. The Group Life Insurance Scheme ensures that if a federal employee passes away while in service, their family will receive a payout to help ease the burden during that difficult period,” Walson-Jack stated.
She detailed that the new insurance policy would cover top government figures and frontline agencies. Beneficiaries include the President, Vice President, Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, permanent secretaries, and all federal civil servants funded through the national treasury.
The scope of coverage also includes key paramilitary and security institutions such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Annual Policy to Begin Upon Premium Payment—Government Appoints 17 Underwriters
Walson-Jack disclosed that the Group Life Assurance Scheme operates on a yearly cycle and will begin once premiums are paid to the designated insurers. In compliance with the “no premium, no cover” policy, insurance coverage will only take effect after financial obligations are fulfilled.
She confirmed that the federal government had finalized the selection of 17 insurance underwriters for the upcoming coverage year. “The FEC has approved the appointment of 17 insurance firms to handle the Group Life Insurance cover for 2025/2026,” she stated. “Premiums have already been paid, and the policy will be valid for 12 months.”
She noted that although the scheme has been in place through past and current administrations, many public servants remain unaware of its existence or benefits. To address this gap, the civil service plans to launch a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at educating workers about the program.
“This policy has existed under this and previous governments, yet many civil servants don’t know about it. My office will soon roll out a sensitization program to improve awareness,” she said. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to talk about this today, and I encourage the media to give it wide coverage. This policy directly benefits every federal public servant, including many of you here.”
Conclusion
With the approval of a revamped employment strategy and a renewed life insurance plan, the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken notable steps toward reinforcing economic inclusion and social security for its citizens. The updated National Employment Policy promises to redefine the country’s approach to job creation, while the Group Life Assurance Scheme demonstrates a strong commitment to employee welfare.
These dual initiatives signal a concerted effort by the Tinubu administration to not only address economic hardship and labor market inefficiencies but also ensure that government workers receive adequate protection and support in the face of life’s uncertainties. As both policies move into implementation, the emphasis will now be on stakeholder engagement, awareness, and execution to achieve tangible impact.
