Nigerian Federal Civil Service Salary Structure 2025

Nigerian Federal Civil Service Salary Structure 2025: Full Details with Complete Breakdown

Overview

The Nigerian Federal Civil Service is a key employer, offering structured salaries based on the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and other specialized structures like CONTISS, CONUASS, CONMESS, CONHESS, and others. Salaries are determined by grade levels (1–17), steps (1–15), qualifications, experience, and performance. The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) oversees these structures. In 2025, salaries reflect the new minimum wage of ₦70,000/month, effective from July 2024, with a 25–35% increase for certain structures. Below is a detailed breakdown of salaries, allowances, and influencing factors.

Salary Structure: Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS)

CONPSS is the primary salary structure for most federal civil servants, covering 17 grade levels with steps reflecting years of service and performance. Below is the 2025 salary structure post-minimum wage adjustment, based on available data.

Annual and Monthly Salaries by Grade Level (CONPSS)

  • Grade Level 01, Step 01: ₦930,000/year (~₦77,500/month) – Entry-level for basic certificate holders (e.g., SSCE).
  • Grade Level 02, Step 01: ₦934,160/year (~₦77,847/month).
  • Grade Level 03, Step 01: ₦937,713/year (~₦78,143/month).
  • Grade Level 04, Step 01: ₦950,243/year (~₦79,187/month) – Typical entry-level for school leavers with OND or equivalent.
  • Grade Level 05, Step 01: ₦973,123/year (~₦81,094/month).
  • Grade Level 06, Step 01: ₦1,041,786/year (~₦86,816/month) – Entry-level for some diploma holders.
  • Grade Level 07, Step 01: ₦1,277,667/year (~₦106,472/month) – Entry-level for HND/OND holders.
    • Step 15: ₦1,780,501/year (~₦148,375/month).
  • Grade Level 08, Step 01: ₦1,479,276/year (~₦123,273/month) – Entry-level for Bachelor’s degree holders.
    • Step 15: ₦1,978,663/year (~₦164,888/month).
  • Grade Level 09, Step 01: ₦1,641,226/year (~₦136,769/month).
    • Step 15: ₦2,152,698/year (~₦179,392/month).
  • Grade Level 10, Step 01: ₦1,806,041/year (~₦150,503/month).
  • Grade Level 12, Step 01: ₦2,088,830/year (~₦174,069/month).
  • Grade Level 13, Step 01: ₦2,501,684/year (~₦208,474/month).
  • Grade Level 14, Step 01: ₦2,932,256/year (~₦244,355/month).
  • Grade Level 15, Step 01: ₦3,316,564/year (~₦276,380/month).
  • Grade Level 16, Step 01: ₦4,785,252/year (~₦398,771/month).
  • Grade Level 17, Step 01: ₦4,183,600/year (~₦348,633/month) – Senior roles (e.g., Directors).
    • Step 09: ₦5,452,136/year (~₦454,344/month) – Highest paid (e.g., Permanent Secretary).

Note: Salaries increase with steps (1–15) within each grade level, reflecting years of service and performance. Steps typically terminate at Step 15 for Levels 1–14 and Step 9 for Levels 15–17.

Specialized Salary Structures

The Federal Civil Service uses specialized salary structures for specific sectors:

  • CONTISS II (Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure): For non-academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
    • CONTISS 01, Step 01: ₦930,000/year (~₦77,500/month).
    • CONTISS 15, Step 15: ₦8,410,919/year (~₦700,910/month).
    • Special designations (e.g., Registrar/Bursar): ₦9,476,689/year (~₦789,724/month).
  • CONUASS (Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure): For academic staff in federal universities.
    • Example: Lecturers’ salaries range from ₦1,200,000–₦4,000,000/year, depending on rank (e.g., Assistant Lecturer to Professor).
  • CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure): For medical doctors in federal health institutions.
    • Example: Medical officers start at ₦2,400,000/year (₦200,000/month), with senior consultants earning up to ₦7,000,000/year (~₦583,333/month).
  • CONHESS (Consolidated Health Salary Structure): For non-medical health workers (e.g., nurses, pharmacists).
    • Example: Entry-level nurses earn ₦1,200,000–₦1,800,000/year (₦100,000–₦150,000/month).
  • CONPASS (Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure): For paramilitary agencies (e.g., NSCDC, Police).
    • Example: Entry-level officers earn ₦600,000–₦1,200,000/year (₦50,000–₦100,000/month).
  • CONRAISS (Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure): For research and training institutions.
  • CONJUSS (Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure): For judicial officers.
  • CONTOPSAL (Consolidated Top Public Office Holders Salary Structure): For top officials (e.g., ministers, commissioners).

Additional Compensation

  • Peculiar Allowance: ~40% of basic salary, approved for all civil servants to address unique job demands.
  • Allowances: Vary by role, grade, and agency, including:
    • Transport allowance (~₦10,000–₦30,000/month).
    • Housing allowance (if government accommodation is not provided).
    • Meal subsidy, utility allowance, leave grant.
    • Specialized allowances (e.g., clinical duty, hazard, rural posting, journal allowance for academics).
    • Performance-based bonuses (for ~30–40% of civil servants, ranging from ₦10,000–₦50,000/month).
  • Benefits:
    • Health insurance (NHIS) for employees and families.
    • Pension contributions (Contributory Pension Scheme).
    • Car, housing, and furniture loans.
    • Maternity leave with full pay for female staff.
    • Regular training and study leave with pay.
    • Job security and regular promotions.

Salary Distribution

  • Median Salary: ₦1,800,000/year (₦150,000/month), with 50% of civil servants earning below and 50% above.
  • Percentiles:
    • 25th percentile: ₦1,200,000/year (₦100,000/month).
    • 75th percentile: ₦3,600,000/year (₦300,000/month).
  • Range:
    • 65% of salaries fall between ₦77,500–₦200,000/month.
    • 20% are below ₦77,500/month.
    • 10% are between ₦200,000–₦300,000/month.
    • 5% exceed ₦300,000/month (senior roles).

Factors Influencing Salary

  1. Grade Level and Step: Determined by qualifications and years of service. Entry points:
    • SSCE: Grade Level 01–04.
    • OND/HND: Grade Level 06–07.
    • Bachelor’s Degree: Grade Level 08.
    • Master’s Degree: Grade Level 09.
    • Senior roles (e.g., Directors, Permanent Secretaries): Grade Level 15–17.
  2. Education: Higher qualifications (e.g., Bachelor’s, Master’s) result in higher grade levels and pay.
  3. Experience: Annual step increments (1–15) increase salaries within the same grade level.
  4. Agency/Ministry: Specialized agencies (e.g., CBN, FIRS, NIMASA) pay higher, with salaries up to ₦1,000,000–₦2,000,000/month for mid-level roles.
  5. Location: Urban postings (e.g., Abuja, Lagos) may include additional allowances (e.g., rural posting allowance for remote areas).
  6. Performance: Regular promotions and performance-based incentives boost earnings.
  7. Gender: A 5–9% pay gap exists, with male civil servants earning slightly more on average.

Salary Increments

  • Minimum Wage Adjustment: Effective July 2024, the minimum wage increased to ₦70,000/month, with a 25–35% salary increase for six consolidated structures (CONPSS, CONUASS, CONTISS, CONMESS, CONHESS, CONPASS).
  • Annual Increment: Civil servants receive ~5–10% step increments annually, depending on grade level and performance.
  • Periodic Reviews: NSIWC reviews salaries every 4–5 years, with adjustments for inflation (e.g., 169% salary growth from 2007–2019 vs. 214% inflation growth).

Comparison to Other Sectors

  • State Civil Service: Salaries are lower, e.g., Grade Level 01: ₦22,100–₦23,096/month (₦250,200–₦305,152/year).
  • Lagos State Civil Service: Higher than other states, e.g., Grade Level 08: ₦164,434–₦244,644/month (₦1,973,208–₦2,935,928/year).
  • Private Sector: Varies widely; top firms (e.g., banks, tech) pay ₦200,000–₦500,000/month for mid-level roles, but lack job security.
  • Specialized Agencies (e.g., CBN, FIRS): Pay significantly higher, with mid-level roles earning ₦1,000,000–₦2,000,000/month.

Job Market Insights

  • Demand: The Federal Civil Service employs over 1.2 million workers across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), with high demand due to job security and benefits.
  • Key Employers: Ministries (e.g., Finance, Health), CBN, FIRS, NNPC, NIMASA, Federal Universities, and paramilitary agencies.
  • Recruitment: Managed by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC). Recruitment is competitive, often requiring connections or merit-based exams.
  • Challenges:
    • Salary delays in some MDAs.
    • Inflation erodes purchasing power (e.g., 214% inflation growth from 2007–2022 vs. 169% salary growth).
    • Corruption and tribalism in recruitment and promotions.
    • Inadequate retention strategies, leading to brain drain.

Strategies to Increase Earnings

  1. Pursue Higher Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees secure higher grade levels (e.g., Level 08–09).
  2. Gain Certifications: Professional qualifications (e.g., ICAN, CIPM) enhance promotion prospects.
  3. Seek Promotions: Regular performance reviews and exams can advance grade levels.
  4. Join High-Paying Agencies: Agencies like CBN, FIRS, or NNPC offer better salaries.
  5. Leverage Allowances: Negotiate for specialized allowances (e.g., hazard, rural posting).

Notes

  • Salaries are gross figures before tax and pension deductions. Net salaries vary based on deductions.
  • Data is sourced from NSIWC, PayScale, MySalaryScale, Tribune Online, and other platforms, reflecting 2024–2025 trends.
  • Outliers (e.g., ₦18,000/month in older data) reflect pre-2024 minimum wage figures.
  • The Federal Civil Service remains attractive due to job security, pensions, and benefits, despite inflation challenges.

 

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