Business
FG Increases Workers’ Allowance By 35%
The Federal Government has approved a 35 percent increase in hazard allowances for junior and senior members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) working in federal universities.
The revised allowance package, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, follows an agreement reached between the government and NASU on June 29, 2026.
According to The PUNCH, the approval was conveyed in a circular issued in Abuja on July 20, 2026, by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
The circular, signed by the commission’s Acting Secretary, Adighiogu Chiadi, was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; ministers; and heads of government agencies.
“Following the agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions dated 29th June 2026, the Federal Government has approved the payment of the following allowances to non-teaching staff members of NASU in Federal Universities,” the circular stated.History
Under the new package, workers on CONTISS 1–5 will receive an annual laboratory hazard allowance of ₦243,000, up from ₦180,000, representing a 35 percent increase.
Employees on CONTISS 6–15 will now earn ₦486,000 annually, an increase from ₦360,000, also representing a 35 percent rise.
The union had sought annual hazard allowances of ₦360,000 and ₦720,000 for the two categories, respectively.
Responsibility Allowances Reviewed
The government also approved increases in responsibility allowances for senior non-teaching staff.
Annual responsibility allowances for registrars and bursars were raised from ₦750,000 to ₦840,000, representing a 12 percent increase, although NASU had requested ₦1.5 million annually.
Deputy registrars, deputy bursars and deputy directors will now receive ₦480,000 annually, compared with the union’s demand of ₦600,000.
For the first time, directors will receive an annual responsibility allowance of ₦600,000, matching NASU’s request.
Similarly, heads of sections, who previously had no approved responsibility allowance, will now receive ₦150,000 annually, against the union’s demand of ₦900,000.
Other Allowances Adjusted
The government also reviewed allowances for field trips, teaching practice and industrial supervision.
Staff on CONTISS 1–5 will receive ₦81,000 annually, up from ₦60,000, while those on CONTISS 6–12 will earn ₦108,000, compared with the previous ₦80,000.
Employees on CONTISS 13–15 will now receive ₦135,000 annually, an increase from ₦100,000.
The revised package also includes higher allowances for the Students’ Work Experience Programme (SWEP).
Workers on CONTISS 1–5 will receive ₦81,000 annually, up from ₦60,000, while those on CONTISS 6–12 will earn ₦108,000, an increase from ₦80,000.
For employees on CONTISS 13–15, the previous allowance range of ₦60,000 to ₦100,000 has been harmonised at ₦135,000 annually, although NASU had proposed ₦200,000.
The circular further stated that the Provision Tools Allowance (PTA) has been absorbed into the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CATA), while laboratory student-to-staff ratio supplementation will now be covered under existing excess workload provisions.
The review follows months of negotiations between the Federal Government and NASU after the union argued that the allowances introduced under the 2009 agreement had become inadequate due to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.
The Nigerian currency, Naira (₦), continued its battle against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Saturday.
Daily Voice reports that data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the local currency sold at ₦1,321.2160/1$ on Sunday.
The latest rate is the same as Saturday’s rate of ₦1,321.2160/1$.
At the parallel market (black market), however, the naira closed on Sunday at ₦1,400 to the dollar.
The offers by commercial banks, Bureau de Change (BDC) operators, and other foreign exchange dealers may, however, differ from the reference rates due to transaction margins and prevailing demand and supply conditions.
Market participants will continue to monitor foreign exchange inflows, demand for dollars, and CBN policies for indications of whether the naira can sustain its gains through the month.
Cement prices in Nigeria remain elevated, with a 50kg bag selling for between ₦12,000 and ₦15,000 in many markets, putting further pressure on builders, contractors and Nigerians planning construction projects.
The latest market data shows that although some brands are currently available below the ₦15,000 mark, the industry remains significantly more expensive than it was at the end of 2025 and early 2026.
Recent market quotations show the following indicative prices for a 50kg bag:
Note: prices may vary by location and transportation costs.
These figures are based on a September 1 market report and can vary depending on location, transportation costs, dealer margins and supply conditions.
However, July industry data painted a more expensive picture. CementNet reported retail prices of ₦12,000 to ₦15,000, with Dangote selling for about ₦13,000–₦15,000, BUA at ₦12,000–₦14,500, and HBM Nigeria, formerly Lafarge Africa, at ₦12,000–₦13,500.
The latest figures suggest that cement prices may have eased from the highest quotations seen earlier in the year, but the broader trend remains upward.
In July, The Guardian reported that a 50kg bag typically sold for ₦12,500–₦15,000 across major markets including Lagos, Abuja and Abia.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) also reported that prices had reached between ₦13,000 and ₦15,000 in some locations during the first half of 2026.
This means the current ₦12,000–₦14,000 quotations for several major brands should be viewed as some market-level moderation rather than a broad collapse in cement prices.
Why cement remains high
High energy and transportation costs continue to weigh heavily on the industry. Cement manufacturing requires significant amounts of energy, while moving cement from factories and depots to retail markets adds further costs.
Location is also playing an important role. Buyers in areas farther from production centres can pay substantially more because of haulage and distribution expenses.
The situation is particularly significant because Nigeria has substantial cement production capacity, yet retail prices remain high. The Guardian reported that domestic production exceeds consumption, with surplus output exported to neighbouring countries.
Nigerian civil servants on Grade Level 8 now earn between N1,479,276 and N1,914,514 annually, depending on their step within the scale, following the new minimum wage signed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The figures fall under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), the framework that governs pay across Nigeria’s federal civil service.
CONPSS covers 17 grade levels in total, and a worker’s position within each level is shaped by their qualifications, length of service, and performance record.
Grade Level 8 has 14 steps, with each step representing a progression in earnings. Below is the full breakdown:
The gap between the lowest and highest steps at this level amounts to N435,238, reflecting how significantly length of service can affect take-home pay within a single grade.
Interest in the salary structure has grown since Tinubu’s government approved a new national minimum wage, which triggered a review of earnings across the public sector. Civil servants and job seekers have been keenly examining each grade level to understand what the adjusted structure means in practical terms.
Workers at Grade Level 8 are typically mid-level employees with some years of experience in the civil service. Their earnings sit above the entry-level grades but below the senior cadre, making this level a reference point for many who are planning career progression within the federal workforce.
INEC Release Final List Of 2027 Presidential Candidates
Banker Shot dead As Kidnappers Strike FUTO
SO SAD: Nigerian Bishop Shot Dead In Shocking Attack
Former Super Eagles Star Loses Life Savings, Duped By A Pastor of ₦1.2 Billion
I’m A Married Man, I Can Never Get Myself Involved With Such A Thing, Delta Gov Aide Reveals Why He Offered Comfort ₦500,000 Job
