The Federal Government has approved a 35% increase in hazard allowances for members of the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) working in federal universities across Nigeria The new allowance package takes effect from January 1, 2026, following months of negotiations between the union and the government
The decision is expected to provide financial relief for thousands of non teaching staff who have long demanded a review of their allowances due to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living While the government approved several upward adjustments, some of the union’s requests were only partially granted
The revised remuneration package also introduces new responsibility allowances for directors and heads of sections, marking one of the most significant updates to NASU’s welfare package since the 2009 agreement
FG Approves 35% Hazard Allowance for NASU Members
The Federal Government approved a 35 percent increase in annual laboratory hazard allowances for junior and senior members of NASU in federal universities
The approval followed an agreement reached between the government and NASU on June 29, 2026, with implementation scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026
The decision was officially communicated through a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on July 20, 2026
The circular was signed by Adighiogu Chiadi, Acting Secretary of the Commission, and distributed to key government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, and heads of federal agencies
New Hazard Allowance Breakdown
The revised hazard allowance affects workers across different CONTISS salary levels
CONTISS 1 to 5
- Previous annual allowance: ₦180,000
- New annual allowance: ₦243,000
- Increase: ₦63,000 (35%)
NASU had requested ₦360,000 annually for workers in this category
CONTISS 6 to15
- Previous annual allowance: ₦360,000
- New annual allowance: ₦486,000
- Increase: ₦126,000 (35%)
The union had proposed ₦720,000 annually
Directors and Senior Officials Receive New Responsibility Allowances
The government also reviewed responsibility allowances for senior non teaching officials in federal universities
The new approved rates include:
- Registrars and Bursars: Increased from ₦750,000 to ₦840,000 annually
- Deputy Registrars, Deputy Bursars and Deputy Directors: ₦480,000 annually
- Directors: ₦600,000 annually, matching NASU’s request
- Heads of Sections: ₦150,000 annually
Although several allowances were increased, some fell below the amounts originally requested by NASU during negotiations
Other Allowances Also Increased
Beyond hazard allowances, the Federal Government approved increases in several work related allowances
Field Trips, Teaching Practice and Industrial Supervision
For employees on:
CONTISS 1 to 5: Increased from ₦60,000 to ₦81,000
CONTISS 6 to 12: Increased from ₦80,000 to ₦108,000
CONTISS 13 to 15: Increased from ₦100,000 to ₦135,000
Students’ Work Experience Program (SWEP)
SWEP allowances also received similar adjustments:
- CONTISS 1 to 5: ₦81,000
- CONTISS 6 to 12: ₦108,000
- CONTISS 13 to 15: Harmonized to ₦135,000
The revised figures remain below the amounts proposed by NASU, which sought higher annual payments across all salary levels
Other Changes Introduced by the Government
The circular also announced structural changes to existing allowance packages
These include:
The Provision Tools Allowance (PTA) has been merged into the Consolidated Non Teaching Tools Allowance (CATA)
Laboratory student to staff ratio supplementation will now be handled through excess workload arrangements instead of a separate allowance
According to the government, these adjustments are intended to simplify the allowance structure while ensuring non-teaching staff continue to receive compensation for additional responsibilities
Why the Allowance Review Matters
The latest review comes after prolonged discussions between NASU and the Federal Government over the inadequacy of allowances introduced under the 2009 agreement
Union leaders argued that inflation, economic challenges and the rising cost of living had significantly reduced the value of the existing allowances, making an upward review necessary
Although not every demand was fully approved, the 2026 package represents a notable improvement in the welfare of non academic staff working in Nigeria’s federal universities
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