Federal Civil Servants Get Major Allowance Boost

ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive upward review of peculiar allowances and welfare benefits for civil servants nationwide, targeting improved take-home pay and higher morale in the public service.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, announced the development on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja. She said the measures, endorsed by the Federal Executive Council, will directly benefit workers across multiple salary structures.

The review covers personnel under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS). According to Walson-Jack, the revised peculiar allowances will apply uniformly across all grade levels, delivering noticeable gains for both junior and senior officers.

Several critical allowances have also been increased, including duty tour allowance, estacode, and book allowance. The Head of Service added that virtually all allowances contained in the Public Service Rules have now received upward adjustment.

A standout provision grants 100 percent Duty Tour Allowance to civil servants participating in approved training programmes. Walson-Jack clarified that eligibility applies even for trainings held within the same station, such as in Abuja.

In a significant boost for retirees, the government approved a new exit benefit scheme under the Contributory Pension Scheme. Effective January 1, 2026, retiring civil servants will receive 100 percent of their total annual emoluments as an exit package, on top of regular pension entitlements.

Walson-Jack described the package as a deliberate effort to guarantee dignity in retirement. She stressed that no public servant should exit service without sufficient financial cushion.

The reforms further include the full operationalisation of the Employee Compensation Scheme. This initiative offers financial protection to workers who sustain job-related injuries or in cases of death.

The measures arrive as labour unions intensify demands for better welfare packages amid persistent inflationary pressures and rising living costs across Nigeria. Many civil servants, particularly in states and federal establishments, have grappled with eroded purchasing power in recent years.

Analysts believe the combined interventions could strengthen financial security for public sector workers and contribute to greater efficiency in service delivery.

NaijaChoice News understands that implementation details are expected to be rolled out to ministries, departments, and agencies in the coming weeks.

These welfare enhancements represent a notable response to long-standing concerns about the welfare of Nigeria’s civil service workforce.