The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday approved increases in some allowances and other welfare benefits for civil servants as part of its efforts to improve the welfare of the workers and boost their morale for improved public service.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, who made this disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja, spoke on the major benefits of the workers approved by the Federal Executive Council.
According to her, the review affects workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) in order to ensure that no cadre of the civil servants is left out in the welfare packages.
Walson-Jack explained that the revised peculiar allowances were structured to reflect across all grade levels in the public service as a way to increase in earnings for both junior and senior officers.
- Advertisement -
Similarly, the HoS confirmed that the government approved an upward review of allowances listed under the Public Service Rules for the workers, including duty tour allowance (DTA), estacode, and book allowance.
For instance, she disclosed that under the reform, 100 percent Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) was approved for all cadres of civil servants attending approved training programmes, even if travel is not involved, adding that even if a civil servant is based in Abuja and attending training within the FCT, he or she will be entitled to full DTA.
According to her, in addition to the salary-related upward review for the workers, the government has also introduced a new exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme, which provides 100 percent of a retiree’s total annual emoluments as an exit package, in addition to their pension, effective January 1, 2026.
Walson-Jack described the reform measures as part of the government’s step toward ensuring dignity in retirement, stressing that no public servant should leave service without adequate financial support.
She also confirmed the operationalisation of the Employee Compensation Scheme aimed at providing financial protection for workers who suffer job-related injuries or death.
It would be recalled that most labour groups in the country, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), had over the past years been clamouring for upward review of civil servants’ salaries and other emoluments in view of the rising costs of living and other macroeconomic whirlwinds in the economy.
