Tinubu Approves One-Year Salary Gratuity for Retiring Federal Workers

ABUJA — Retiring personnel of the State House will be among the first federal workers to benefit from the newly approved gratuity scheme for civil servants introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, has revealed.

Fashedemi made the disclosure on Thursday during a send-off ceremony organised in Abuja to honour two retiring directors and two deputy directors, describing the initiative as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the welfare of public servants before and after retirement.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, State House, Mr. Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Permanent Secretary praised President Tinubu for approving the return of gratuity payments for retiring federal workers in addition to pensions and other retirement entitlements.

The development follows the approval of a new federal civil service gratuity scheme by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in March 2026. Under the policy, officers who have completed a minimum of 10 years in service will be entitled to a gratuity equivalent to one year of their total annual emolument upon retirement, with effect from January 1, 2026.

The scheme was introduced following recommendations by an inter-ministerial technical committee established by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in collaboration with key government agencies. It is designed to complement the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) introduced in 2004, which largely eliminated gratuity payments for federal civil servants.

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Speaking at the ceremony, Fashedemi noted that some of the retiring officers being honoured would be among the first beneficiaries of the new retirement package.

“Mr President approved the introduction of gratuity for retiring civil servants, and some of you are among the first set of civil servants that will benefit from it,” he said.

He explained that the policy reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that workers who dedicate decades of service to the nation are properly rewarded and supported after leaving active service.

The Permanent Secretary described retirement after 35 years of service or upon attaining the age of 60 as a significant milestone that deserves recognition and celebration.

“We take it that when people work hard for government and put in all these years of service, they need to be recognised and celebrated,” he added.

Fashedemi further linked the initiative to the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25), which prioritises employee welfare, productivity and institutional reforms across the public service.

According to him, the State House has institutionalised programmes aimed at recognising exceptional officers during active service and celebrating them upon retirement.

He also commended the retirees for their professionalism, discipline, integrity and commitment to national service throughout their careers.

“It is not easy to do all this work and retire peacefully. All of you have successfully achieved that, and it is no mean feat,” he stated.

The approval of the gratuity scheme has been widely welcomed by civil servants and labour groups, many of whom had long advocated the restoration of gratuity payments to improve the welfare of retirees under the contributory pension system.

Observers say the policy is expected to boost morale within the Federal Civil Service, provide greater financial security for retirees and strengthen confidence in government efforts to improve workers’ welfare.

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, praised the retiring officers for their dedication and service to the country.

Former Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Dr. Nnamdi Mbaeri, also highlighted the importance of commitment, professionalism and hard work in public service.

Earlier, the Director of Administration, State House, Alhaji Abdulkadir Idris, described the ceremony as a celebration of distinguished officers who had rendered meritorious service to Nigeria and wished them a fulfilling retirement.

The officers honoured included Mr. Francis Wasa, Director of ICT; Mrs. Adenike Akintola, Director of Internal Audit; and Mr. Esiyede Godwin, Deputy Director, Library and Archives.

Another retiree, Bukar Usman Goni, a Deputy Director in the Finance and Accounts Department who was absent from the ceremony, was also recognised for his contributions.

Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Wasa thanked the State House management for the honour and prayed that serving officers would enjoy successful careers and retire in good health, peace and fulfilment.

With the implementation of the new gratuity scheme for federal civil servants, the Federal Government hopes to provide additional financial support for retirees and reinforce the value of long-term public service.

Tinubu Approves One-Year Salary Gratuity for Retiring Federal Workers

US, Nigeria Intensify Joint Strikes Against ISIS-Linked Militants – Rubio

The United States has reaffirmed its expanding security partnership with Nigeria, highlighting recent joint military operations targeting high-ranking terrorist leaders operating in the country’s North-East.

Speaking before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, said Washington is actively working with Nigerian security forces in ongoing counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria, including recent coordinated strikes against Islamic State-linked militants.

Rubio made the remarks while defending the US State Department’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, noting that the partnership has intensified amid continued instability in the Lake Chad Basin.

“We are now actively in counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government and Nigerian security forces, including a joint operation a couple of weeks ago that took out the number two leader of global ISIS operating from inside of the country, and that continues,” Rubio said.

US officials identified the killed militant as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, described as a senior ISIS figure linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). He was reportedly killed on May 15 during a coordinated operation involving US intelligence support and Nigerian military forces in the Lake Chad region.

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US defense officials, including Pentagon spokesperson Pete Hegseth, said Al-Minuki played a central role in planning and directing attacks across parts of northern Nigeria, including assaults on civilian and religious communities.

Following the operation, President Bola Tinubu confirmed the militant leader’s death and praised the joint security effort, stating that several of his commanders were also neutralised in the strike. He described the development as a significant step in ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist networks operating in the country.

Security sources say the operation marked one of the most high-profile targeted killings of an ISIS-affiliated commander in Nigeria in recent years.

In the weeks following the strike, the Nigerian military reported additional coordinated air operations in Borno State. According to the Defence Headquarters, more than 20 ISWAP fighters were killed in an air raid in Metele shortly after the initial operation.

On June 1, another joint intelligence-backed operation involving the Nigerian Air Force and US Africa Command (US AFRICOM) reportedly struck militant positions in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area, killing at least 21 suspected ISWAP fighters.

Military authorities say the sustained operations are part of a broader strategy to disrupt insurgent logistics networks, eliminate senior commanders, and reduce attacks in the Lake Chad Basin region, which has remained a hotspot for jihadist activity for over a decade.

The US-Nigeria partnership has also focused on intelligence sharing, surveillance support, and counter-IED capabilities, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgencies in the North-East.

Analysts say the renewed operational tempo reflects a deeper phase of security cooperation between both countries, even as concerns persist over civilian protection, regional spillover risks, and the long-term stability of liberated communities.

The latest developments underscore Washington’s continued strategic interest in West Africa’s security landscape, particularly in countering extremist groups operating across porous borders in the Sahel and Lake Chad region.

US, Nigeria Intensify Joint Strikes Against ISIS-Linked Militants – Rubio

US Publishes Photos of 110 Nigerians Facing Deportation

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has publicly released the names and photographs of 355 West African nationals facing deportation, including 110 Nigerians, as part of an intensified immigration enforcement campaign under the Trump administration. The list, published on the DHS website under a section labeled the “Worst of the Worst” criminal register, identifies individuals from 16 West African countries who have been convicted of serious crimes or violated U.S. immigration laws. The DHS stated that all listed individuals are subject to ongoing immigration enforcement proceedings, though specific crimes and deportation timelines have not been disclosed for each person.

Among West African nations, Nigeria leads the list with 110 nationals, followed by Liberia with 94, Ghana with 30, Senegal with 19, Ivory Coast with 14, Gambia with 14, Cameroon with 15, Mauritania with 12, Cape Verde with 11, Burkina Faso with 9, Niger with 8, Guinea with 6, Togo with 6, Mali with 5, Benin with 1, and Guinea-Bissau with 1. The number of Nigerians on the list has fluctuated in recent months, rising from 79 in February to 130 in March before being revised down to the current figure of 110.

According to DHS officials, individuals on the “Worst of the Worst” register have been flagged for visa overstays and unlawful entry into the U.S., criminal convictions including fraud, identity theft, smuggling, drug trafficking, and violent crimes, as well as failure to meet residency or asylum requirements. The DHS noted that the list includes individuals convicted of offenses ranging from wire fraud to aggravated assault. The department said in a statement: “Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst.”

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The deportation process has involved logistical coordination with several African nations. While Nigeria has resisted U.S. requests to accept third-party nationals (non-Nigerians whom the U.S. wants to deport via Nigeria), other countries have stepped in. Ghana has served as a logistical hub for West African removals, using ECOWAS free movement protocols. Sierra Leone agreed to a third-country agreement and received nine deportees on May 20, 2026, including nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal. The Sierra Leonean government, supported by a $1.5 million U.S. grant, will house deportees for up to 90 days before they return to their home countries. Reports indicated some deportees were “traumatised due to months in chains during detention in the US.”

Unlike Sierra Leone and Ghana, Nigeria’s government has publicly resisted American pressure to accept third-party nationals, citing domestic economic and security challenges. However, Nigerian nationals convicted of crimes in the U.S. remain subject to direct deportation to Nigeria. The diplomatic friction is unlikely to ease already strained U.S.-Nigeria relations.

The DHS launched the “Worst of the Worst” website on December 8, 2025, to publicize the identities of criminal illegal aliens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across all 50 states. As of June 2026, over 35,000 individuals have been named on the list, with more being added regularly. Recent additions from West Africa included individuals convicted of wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft.

The DHS has not provided a specific timeline for the deportations of the 355 West African nationals. However, officials have confirmed that removal proceedings will be carried out in accordance with U.S. immigration law, with ICE coordinating with home countries where diplomatic agreements exist.

US Publishes Photos of 110 Nigerians Facing Deportation