Adedokun Waliyu 
The Federal Government has approved an increase in peculiar allowances and other welfare benefits for civil servants. The move is expected to increase the take-home pay of civil servants and boost the morale of the government’s workforce.
Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, stating that the increment affects workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS). The adjustment is aimed at ensuring a broad-based impact across all cadres of the civil service.
According to her, the allowances have been structured to reflect across all grade levels, leading to better earnings for both senior and junior officers. The Federal Government has also approved a review of key allowances such as duty tour allowance (DTA), estacode, and book allowance. Nearly all allowances in the Public Service Rules have been revised.
One major reform is the approval of 100 percent duty tour allowance for civil servants attending approved training programmes, regardless of whether travel is involved. This means that even workers who attend training within their base location are entitled to full DTA.
In addition to salary-related adjustments, the government has introduced an exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The scheme provides 100 percent of a retiree’s full emoluments as an exit package, in addition to their pension. It is designed to enhance dignity in retirement and ensure that public servants leave service with adequate financial support.
The Federal Government also confirmed the operationalisation of the Employee Compensation Scheme, which is aimed at financially protecting workers who suffer job-related injuries or death.
These reforms come amid increasing calls from labour unions for improved welfare for civil servants as the cost of living continues to rise. They also follow an earlier approval of a salary increase ranging between 25% and 35% for workers across six consolidated salary structures, including CONPSS, CONRAISS, CONPOSS, CONPASS, CONICCS, and CONAFSS.
Support for Oyo Workers
Meanwhile, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has announced a ₦10,000 monthly transportation support fund for civil servants in the state. The support is set to run for an initial period of three months as part of efforts to cushion the effects of rising living costs, particularly transportation.
According to the governor, the initiative is intended to reduce the financial burden on workers and ensure uninterrupted service delivery across ministries, departments, and agencies. He noted that the support is a direct response to the economic realities facing workers, especially the significant increase in transportation costs.
