FG Raises Hazard Allowance for Federal University Workers to N486,000

The Federal Government has approved a review of hazard allowances and other earned benefits for members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in federal universities, with senior workers now set to receive up to N486,000 annually in hazard allowance.

The revised remuneration package, which takes retrospective effect from January 1, 2026, was approved following an agreement reached between the Federal Government and NASU on June 29, 2026.

The approval was conveyed in a circular dated July 20, 2026, issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and signed by its Acting Secretary, Adighiogu A. Chiadi.

The circular, addressed to senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies, confirmed the approval of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance and revised earned allowances for eligible non-teaching staff in federal universities.

Hazard allowance increased

One of the major changes is the upward review of laboratory, workshop, studio, clinical and occupational hazard allowances.

Under the new structure, employees on CONTISS 1–5 will receive N243,000 annually, up from N180,000, representing an increase of N63,000.

For staff on CONTISS 6–15, the annual hazard allowance has risen from N360,000 to N486,000, an increase of N126,000. However, the approved amount falls below NASU’s demand of N720,000 per year.

The government also retained existing provisions for call duty, shift duty and clinical hazard allowances in line with previous NSIWC circulars.

For high-risk allowances, the commission said payments would continue to be made through the Employee Compensation framework under the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, rather than as a fixed annual payment.

Responsibility allowances reviewed

The Federal Government also approved increases in responsibility allowances for senior non-teaching officials.

Under the new package:

• Registrars and bursars will receive N840,000 annually (N70,000 monthly), up from N750,000.
• Directors, who previously had no responsibility allowance, will now receive N600,000 annually (N50,000 monthly).
• Deputy registrars, deputy bursars and deputy directors will receive N480,000 annually (N40,000 monthly).
• Heads of departments and units will receive N360,000 annually, an increase from N300,000.
• Heads of sections, who previously had no approved allowance, will now receive N150,000 annually (N12,500 monthly).

Other allowances increased

The government also approved higher rates for field trips, teaching practice, industrial supervision and the Students Work Experience Programme (SWEP).

For staff on CONTISS 1–5, the allowance increased from N60,000 to N81,000 annually.

Employees on CONTISS 6–12 will receive N108,000 annually, up from N80,000, while those on CONTISS 13–15 will now receive N135,000 annually, compared with the previous maximum of N100,000.

In addition, the government introduced a new annual uniform and protective wear allowance of N80,000 for laboratory, workshop and studio personnel across all three salary categories.

The commission also announced that the Provision Tools Allowance has been absorbed into the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.

It further directed that the Excess Workload Allowance be phased out. Under the current arrangement, officers on CONTISS 09–15 receive N3,500 per hour, subject to a maximum of 52 hours annually. The government retained the existing rate despite NASU’s request to increase it to N10,000 per hour.

Agreement follows months of negotiations

The revised allowances implement the agreement reached between the Federal Government and NASU after months of negotiations over the welfare of non-teaching staff in federal universities.

The union had argued that most of the allowances were still based on the 2009 agreement and had become inadequate due to inflation, the depreciation of the naira and the rising cost of living.

The approval comes as the Federal Government continues engagements with university-based unions aimed at improving conditions of service and maintaining industrial harmony in the country’s public universities.