By Jumoke Olaitan
Civil servants will soon be able to purchase mobile phones, electronics and household items on interest-free instalments through a new digital marketplace.
The platform, known as FGMarket, is being developed by The Guarantor and Partners Ltd., a digital rent payment and guarantor platform.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Maryam Isah, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Isah said The Guarantor and Partners Ltd. was developing FGMarket in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
She said the platform would commence operations on Dec. 1, connecting federal civil servants with vendors and manufacturers.
Isah said the initiative was designed to address difficulties workers faced in purchasing essential goods outright, particularly those with limited disposable income.
“Many civil servants have needs that their monthly salaries may not allow them to meet at once.
“The platform is designed to give them the opportunity to acquire essential items and pay over several months,” she said.
She explained that eligible civil servants would be able to select goods online and repay through monthly salary deductions without interest.
“Rather than waiting until they have the full amount to buy an item, workers can access what they need and spread the payments through agreed monthly deductions,” Isah said.
According to her, the arrangement would enable workers to acquire essential items without making full payments upfront or resorting to conventional loans.
She said the platform would feature essential commodities, mobile phones, electronics, household appliances and educational materials, among other products.
Isah explained that interested workers would register using their service numbers and verified phone numbers before undergoing an eligibility verification process.
The CEO said the platform would also provide delivery options, enabling customers to receive purchases at their homes or offices or collect them from designated vendors.
She said the system would give vendors access to a wider market of verified civil servants, while salary deductions would facilitate payment recovery.
“Vendors will also have the opportunity to reach more customers through the platform, while the payment arrangement will provide a structured way for them to receive their money,” she said.
Isah added that the initiative would complement the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to consumer credit and improve workers’ financial inclusion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) was established to expand consumer credit access, particularly among working Nigerians facing difficulties accessing loans.
The corporation is working towards increasing consumer credit access to 50 per cent of economically active Nigerians by 2030.
Isah said FGMarket would support the broader consumer credit initiative by providing workers with a digital channel to access essential goods and spread payments over an agreed period.
She added that consistent repayments through the platform could also help participating workers build credit histories.
“Every time a worker makes a purchase and repays consistently, it contributes to building a record of responsible credit use,” Isah said.
She urged civil servants and vendors to register ahead of the Dec. 1 launch through fgmarket.ng, adding that support was available at the company’s Abuja office.

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi