The federal government has approved significant increases in allowances for civil servants. This change will take effect on October 1, 2026. The review affects various categories of allowances across the federal public service.
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission signed the circular detailing the review. Public officers on grade levels 16-17 will receive N109,000 as Duty Tour allowance. Grade levels 14-15 will get N73,000, while those in grade levels 12-13 will receive N60,000.
Lower grade levels also see increases. Officers on grade levels 7-10 will earn N51,000 as Duty Tour allowance. Grade levels 5-6 will receive N45,000, and those on grade levels 1-4 will get N30,000.
Permanent Secretaries will benefit from an estacode allowance of $1,040. The Nigeria Labour Congress responded to the announcement with caution. They described the increment in peculiar allowances as inadequate.
Benita Solomon, a civil servant, expressed concern about economic conditions. “Life has not been easy for every typical civil servant,” she said. Esther Ibrahim echoed similar sentiments: “We have heard similar announcements before. What matters now is the implementation.”
Despite the increases, many workers remain skeptical about their impact on daily life. Sunday Adeyemi noted that while this is a welcome development, many will remain cautious until they see changes in their payslips.
Benson Upah stated that although the gesture is appreciated, it is not enough considering current material conditions. Economic hardship continues to challenge many workers across Nigeria.
Officials have not detailed how these changes align with existing public service rules or their long-term sustainability amid ongoing economic challenges.