FG approves higher hazard allowances, welfare package for federal university non-teaching staff

Similarly, annual responsibility allowances for heads of departments and units have increased from N300,000 to N360,000, while heads of sections will now receive N150,000 annually under a newly introduced category.

The Federal Government also reviewed allowances for field trips, teaching practice and industrial supervision.

Under the revised structure, staff on CONTISS 1–5 will receive N81,000 annually, while those on CONTISS 6–12 will earn N108,000. Officers on CONTISS 13–15 are to receive N135,000 annually.

The same rates were approved for the Students Work Experience Programme (SWEP) allowance, replacing the previous lower payments across the respective salary grades.

In addition, the government introduced a new annual uniform and protective clothing allowance of N80,000 for laboratory, workshop and studio personnel across all salary levels covered by the agreement.

The commission further clarified that the Provision Tools Allowance has now been merged into the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.

It also stated that Project Supervision Allowance would not be implemented separately since project supervision already forms part of the official responsibilities of relevant non-teaching personnel.

Similarly, the Laboratory Students-to-Laboratory Staff Ratio Supplementation will be accommodated under the existing Excess Workload framework.

The circular directed that the Excess Workload Allowance should be gradually phased out. Under the current arrangement, officers on CONTISS 09–15 continue to receive N3,500 per hour, subject to a maximum of 52 hours annually, pending its eventual discontinuation.

The latest review follows months of negotiations between the Federal Government and NASU over improved welfare for non-teaching staff in federal universities. The union had argued that many of the allowances had remained unchanged since the 2009 agreement and no longer reflected prevailing economic realities, including inflation and the rising cost of living.

The approval also comes amid the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to sustain industrial harmony within the university system through improved remuneration, implementation of the new national minimum wage, and continued engagement with university-based unions on salaries, allowances and conditions of service.