THE Federal Government has deployed 100 electric mass transit buses for federal civil servants as part of efforts to ease transportation challenges, improve workers’ welfare and enhance productivity.

The buses were launched and commissioned on Wednesday at Eagle Square, Abuja, with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HoCSF, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, describing the initiative as a major milestone in the government’s efforts to improve the welfare of civil servants.

The first phase of the programme involves 37 buses out of the 100 electric buses approved under the Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme.

Walson-Jack described the commissioning as her “parting gift” to federal civil servants, coming less than 24 hours before the end of her tenure as Head of the Civil Service.

“What we have here is 37 buses, being the first instalment of the 100 Electric Buses,” she said.

She said transportation had a significant impact on workers’ finances, safety, punctuality and productivity, adding that affordable and reliable transportation would help reduce the burden on civil servants.

“For many Civil Servants, the daily commute shapes their finances, their safety, their punctuality, and ultimately their productivity,” she said.

According to her, the intervention would enable workers to save money, reduce commuting risks and arrive at work with more energy to deliver quality public service.

The HoCSF said the buses were acquired through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, describing the project as evidence of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to translating government policies into practical benefits for workers.

She highlighted other government interventions, including the upward review of the national minimum wage, wage awards following the removal of petrol subsidy, digitalisation of government services, improved pensions, promotions, employee compensation and health insurance for workers.

Walson-Jack urged the authorities responsible for managing the buses to ensure proper maintenance, transparent routes, safety measures and effective monitoring to guarantee the sustainability of the programme.

She disclosed that operations would begin with a pilot phase on selected routes before a full rollout, adding that the buses would also be deployed to Federal Secretariats across the states.

“A Special Purpose Vehicle has been established to ensure their proper management, maintenance and long-term sustainability,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the project as more than a transportation intervention, saying it combined workers’ welfare, productivity, industrialisation and technology.

Enoh said the buses demonstrated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to ensuring that economic reforms had a human face and delivered tangible benefits to Nigerians.

“Today is an important day for the Federal Civil Service and another practical demonstration of the commitment of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to the welfare of Nigerian workers,” he said.

He said the buses would provide federal civil servants with safer, more affordable and dignified transportation while reducing pressure on household incomes.

Enoh said each of the 100 electric buses could accommodate up to 200 passengers and travel a minimum of 200 kilometres on a full charge.

He also commended Walson-Jack for ensuring that the project became a reality, describing the buses as one of her final legacies to the Federal Civil Service.

“As you prepare to conclude your distinguished tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, there is something particularly meaningful about leaving behind an intervention that will continue serving civil servants every working day,” he said.

The minister further linked the programme to the government’s industrialisation agenda, saying it would support efforts to expand Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing capacity.

He said the government’s vision was for more vehicles, buses and mobility solutions used in Nigeria to be produced locally by Nigerian manufacturers.

“Nigeria must produce more. Nigeria must manufacture more. Nigeria must create more jobs at home,” Enoh said.

He stressed that Nigeria must not only adopt electric mobility but also develop capacity in areas such as battery technology, charging infrastructure, power electronics and modern vehicle systems.

According to him, the long-term objective is for Nigeria to become an automotive manufacturing hub for Africa, with local factories producing vehicles and components while creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

“What you see before us today is a small but important picture of the Nigeria Mr President is working to build: a Nigeria that takes care of its workers, manufactures more of what it consumes, creates jobs for its young people, embraces new technology and has the confidence to build its future at home,” he said.

Enoh commended the National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, and other stakeholders involved in the project, urging local manufacturers to invest in factories, deepen local content and produce globally competitive products.

He said the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring that its economic reforms translated into industries, jobs, infrastructure and improved living standards for Nigerians.