The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission (FCT-CSC) in partnership with the Office of the Head of Service, FCT Administration (FCTA), has started a pre-retirement workshop in Abuja. The workshop aims to equip retiring public servants with strategies for a prosperous and purposeful post-service life. Chairman of the commission, Emeka Ezeh, stated that the initiative is designed to help retiring workers prepare for the transition from active government service to a productive and financially secure retirement.
Ezeh explained that officers who have devoted 35 to 40 years to active service or reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 to 65 years often experience uncertainty and anxiety about life after service. He stressed the need for proactive guidance to enable retirees to manage the transition successfully and maximise their years after government employment. The chairman noted that the workshop represents the first collaborative initiative between the FCT-CSC and the Office of the Head of Service.
The pre-retirement programme is in line with Section 7c(ii) of the FCT-CSC Establishment Act, which mandates the commission to advise the FCT Minister on matters relating to the conditions of service of employees. Ezeh expressed appreciation to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the Acting Head of Service, Mrs Nancy Nathan, for their support and collaboration. He assured that the pre-retirement programme would become a sustained annual initiative.
In her remarks, Nathan commended the retiring officers for their dedication, loyalty, and contributions to the development and administration of the FCT. She assured the retirees that their departure from the government payroll would not erase the value of their contributions. Nathan noted that their institutional knowledge, experience, and developmental blueprints would remain part of the territory's progress.
Nathan urged the retiring workers to regard retirement not as the end of their relevance but as an opportunity to redirect their experience toward mentorship, community development, and entrepreneurship. The Acting Head of Service encouraged the retirees to make the most of their post-service life and contribute to the growth and development of the FCT in different capacities.
The workshop has the theme, "How to Triumph in Retirement," and is aimed at providing a platform for retiring public servants to learn and share experiences. Ezeh urged the participants to develop concrete strategies capable of transforming their post-service years into a rewarding and fulfilling chapter of their lives.
The FCT-CSC and the Office of the Head of Service are working together to ensure that retiring public servants are well-prepared for life after government employment. The collaboration is a demonstration of their shared commitment to the welfare of retiring public servants.
Key points
- The FCT-CSC and Office of the Head of Service have started a pre-retirement workshop to equip retiring public servants with strategies for a prosperous post-service life.
