𝗙𝗚 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀

By George OPARA

President Bola Tinubu-led federal government of Nigeria has okayed a sweeping hike in specific allowances and other welfare benefits for civil servants.

The objective, Insider sources said was to improve take-home pay and boosting morale across the public service.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, made this declaration on Friday in a press briefing in the nation’s capital Abuja.

Walson-Jack also outlined key reforms endorsed by the Federal Executive Council, noting that the review affects workers under both the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), ensuring a broad-based impact across all cadres.

She said the revised peculiar allowances have been structured to bear across all grade levels, resulting in a meaningful increase in earnings for both junior and senior officers.

Furthermore, she said the government even approved an upward review of several key allowances, including duty tour allowance (DTA), estacode, and book allowance. Walson-Jack noted that virtually all allowances listed under the Public Service Rules have now been revised.

The reform’s major highlight is the approval of 100 percent Duty Tour Allowance for civil servants attending approved training programmes, regardless of whether travel is involved.

Even if you are based in Abuja and attend training within Abuja, you are entitled to full DTA,” she said.

Also, She said government has introduced a new exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme, providing 100 percent of a retiree’s total annual emoluments as an exit package besides, their pension, effective January 1, 2026.

Walson-Jack described the move as a step toward ensuring dignity in retirement, stressing that no public servant should leave service without adequate financial support.

The government also confirmed the operationalisation of the Employee Compensation Scheme, designed to provide financial protection for workers who suffer job-related injuries or death.