Embrace capital market for wealth creation, SEC urges civil servants

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on Nigerian civil servants to leverage opportunities in the capital market to build long-term wealth, strengthen financial security, and play a more active role in national economic growth.

The call was made by the Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, during a strategic engagement with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, and senior officials of the service.

Agama said the capital market should no longer be perceived as distant or exclusive, but as a practical and accessible platform for public servants to plan for the future.

ALSO READ: Edo Assembly plenary stalled after discovery of bullets, gunshot marks

According to him, civil servants must move beyond dependence on monthly salaries and position themselves as investors and stakeholders in the economy to secure financial stability during active service and in retirement.

He noted that the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) already connects millions of workers to the capital market, as pension assets are invested in government bonds, equities, infrastructure funds, and other regulated instruments.

“The performance of these investments directly affects retirement outcomes. Understanding how the capital market works will deepen confidence in the pension system and open doors to additional investment options,” Agama said.

He encouraged civil servants to explore regulated products such as mutual funds, bonds, and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), stressing that broader participation would enhance personal wealth creation and national development.

To support this goal, the SEC proposed a structured financial literacy programme tailored to the civil service, covering savings, investment planning, housing, and education funding.

Agama also highlighted the role of the capital market in addressing housing challenges faced by public servants, noting that REITs and mortgage-backed securities could provide more affordable pathways to home ownership if properly adopted.

He further called for stronger institutional collaboration, including a joint SEC–civil service committee and the integration of capital market education into training institutions such as the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).

The SEC boss warned civil servants against investing in unregistered entities, noting that many victims of Ponzi schemes are public sector workers. He assured that sensitisation programmes would be intensified to curb such losses.

In her response, Walson-Jack welcomed the SEC’s proposals and pledged the civil service’s commitment to a strategic partnership. She said efforts were underway to improve retirement outcomes, including access to gratuity and housing, noting that the goal is to ensure civil servants retire with dignity and tangible assets.

The engagement underscored a renewed push to align civil service welfare with capital market innovation as a pillar of sustainable economic growth.