The Federal Government has approved higher hazard and responsibility allowances for NASU members, with the new pay taking effect from January 1, 2026, following months of negotiations.

The Federal Government has approved a 35 percent increase in hazard allowances for junior and senior members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in federal universities, with the new remuneration taking effect from January 1, 2026.

The review also introduces higher responsibility, field trip and Students’ Work Experience Programme (SWEP) allowances, affecting thousands of non-teaching staff across federal universities.

The approval was made public through a circular issued in Abuja on July 20, 2026, by Adighiogu Chiadi, Acting Secretary of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). It was addressed to Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President; George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; ministers; and heads of government agencies, stated that the new allowances followed an agreement reached between the Federal Government and NASU on June 29, 2026.

The circular reads “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.”

Hazard and responsibility allowances receive upward review

Under the new package, the annual laboratory hazard allowance for employees on CONTISS 1–5 increased from N180,000 to N243,000, representing a 35 percent increase of N63,000.

Workers on CONTISS 6–15 will now receive N486,000 annually, up from N360,000, an increase of N126,000 or 35 percent. NASU had demanded N360,000 and N720,000 annually for the two categories respectively.

The review also covers responsibility allowances for senior non-teaching staff. Registrars and bursars will now receive N840,000 annually, up from N750,000, representing a 12 percent increase, although the union had sought N1.5 million annually.

Deputy registrars, deputy bursars and deputy directors will receive N480,000 annually, compared with NASU’s demand of N600,000.

Directors, who previously had no responsibility allowance, will now receive N600,000 annually, matching the union’s demand. Heads of sections, who also had no approved responsibility allowance, will now receive N150,000 annually, against NASU’s request for N900,000.

Government also raises field trip and SWEP allowances

The Federal Government also approved increases in field trip, teaching practice and industrial supervision allowances.

Staff on CONTISS 1–5 will now receive N81,000 annually, up from N60,000, while workers on CONTISS 6–12 will receive N108,000, compared with the previous N80,000. Employees on CONTISS 13–15 will now receive N135,000 annually, up from N100,000.

NASU had proposed N120,000, N160,000 and N200,000 respectively for the three categories.

The Students’ Work Experience Programme (SWEP) allowance was also reviewed upward. CONTISS 1–5 staff will receive N81,000 annually instead of N60,000, while CONTISS 6–12 workers will receive N108,000, up from N80,000.

For CONTISS 13–15, the previous N60,000–N100,000 annual rate has been harmonised at N135,000, although the union requested N200,000 annually.

The circular further stated that the government had absorbed the Provision Tools Allowance (PTA) into the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CATA), while laboratory students-to-laboratory staff ratio supplementation would now be covered under excess workload arrangements.

The allowance review followed months of negotiations after NASU argued that the earned allowances established under the 2009 agreement had become unsustainable due to inflationary pressures and the rising cost of living.