FG Approves Increase In Varsity Workers’ Hazard Allowance To N486,000

The federal government has approved an upward review of hazard allowances and other earned benefits for members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions in federal universities.

Under the new remuneration package, laboratory hazard allowance for senior employees will increase by as much as N126,000 annually.

The package takes effect retrospectively from January 1, 2026.

The approval was conveyed in a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission dated July 20, 2026, following the agreement reached between the Federal Government and NASU on June 29, 2026, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondent in Abuja.

The circular, signed by the acting secretary of the commission, Adighiogu A. Chiadi, was addressed to the chief of staff to the president, secretary to the government of the federation, head of the civil service of the federation, ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of government agencies, and other senior public officials.

It stated that the federal government had approved the payment of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance and reviewed earned allowances for eligible non-teaching staff in federal universities.

The circular read, “Following the agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions dated 29th June 2026, the Federal Government has approved the payment of the following allowances to non-teaching staff members of NASU in Federal Universities.”

It added that “the reviewed remuneration package takes effect from 1st January 2026.”

Among the most significant adjustments is the review of the laboratory, workshop, studio, clinical, and occupational hazard allowance.

For employees on CONTISS 1-5, the annual hazard allowance was increased from N180,000 under the 2009 agreement to N243,000, representing an increase of N63,000.

NASU had demanded N360,000 annually.

For workers on CONTISS 6-15, the allowance rose from N360,000 annually to N486,000 annually, an increase of N126,000, although lower than the union’s demand of N720,000 annually.

The circular also retained call duty, shift duty, and clinical hazard allowances in accordance with existing National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission circulars.

For high-risk allowance, the commission stated that payments would continue to be implemented through the Employee Compensation framework in line with the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010 and the NSIWC Circular Ref. No. CM/15/IV/13 dated September 22, 2023, instead of a fixed annual payment.