Abuja Civil Service Salary Structure (2024)
How much are civil servants in Abuja earn on a monthly basis? This has been the question mostly asked by people looking to work in the Federal Capital Territory.
Meanwhile, the Abuja Civil Service is an essential component of the government and administration system in FCT. It comprises government agencies and parastatals responsible for implementing government policies and programs.
The civil service salary structure determines the remunerations and allowances of civil servants based on their grade levels and positions.
This article examines the current Abuja civil service salary structure in 2024.
AN OVERVIEW OF ABUJA CIVIL SERVICE SALARY STRUCTURE
Over the years, improving civil service salaries and incentives has been an objective for the Nigerian government. However, due to revenue constraints and competing needs, salaries have remained low, often leading to agitations by civil servant unions and associations.
The implementation of the national minimum wage act in 2019 which increased the minimum wage to 30,000 naira was expected to enhance civil service remuneration.
Nevertheless, state governments in Nigeria face difficulties meeting the new wage obligations due to limited internally generated revenues.
CURRENT ABUJA CIVIL SERVICE SALARY STRUCTURE
The Abuja civil service operates under the unified federal civil service salary structure governed by the National Incomes, Salaries and Wages Commission.
The salary structure classifies civil servants into sixteen grade levels, from GL 01 being the lowest to GL 16 being directors and permanent secretaries. Each grade level has steps ranging from 1 to 10, with ascension based on years of experience.
The entry point grade levels for new recruits depend on their minimum educational qualification. For instance, fresh Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate holders enter at GL 07/1, while fresh university graduates enter at GL 08/1.
According to the current salary scale, officers on grade level 01 step 1 earn ₦30,000 as their take-home monthly salary as of January 2024. This translates to the prescribed national minimum wage. On the other end, permanent secretaries on grade level 16 take home about N2 million monthly.
The salaries also come with various allowances including vehicle maintenance, rent subsidies, health insurance, meal subsidies and annual leave grants.
ABUJA CIVIL SERVICE SALARY STRUCTURE PER GRADE LEVELS
The following is an overview of the salary structure per grade levels from 1 to 16 in the Abuja civil service:
GRADE LEVEL 01
This is the entry level for unskilled workers in the Abuja civil service. Workers on this grade level include cleaners, gardeners, drivers and office assistants. They typically possess little to no formal education. As of January 2024, GL 01 step 1 officers earn the national minimum wage of ₦30,000 per month. With regular annual step increments, officers can earn up to ₦56,000 monthly on GL 01 step 10 based on their years of experience.
GRADE LEVEL 02
Workers on GL 02 have slightly better educational qualifications including primary school certificate holders and junior secondary school leavers. Positions include machine operators, typists, cooks and security guards.
GL 02 step 1 officers in Abuja earn around ₦36,000 monthly while GL 02 step 10 officers earn approximately ₦70,000 per month as their take-home pay. Allowances also apply.
GRADE LEVEL 03
Junior school certificate holders occupy this grade. Jobs include artisans, ward assistants and technical operators.
With the minimum wage increases, those on step 1 earn ₦42,000 monthly, while step 10 officers make about ₦80,000 per month. There is also provision for uniform, housing and health allowances on this grade.
GRADE LEVEL 04
Senior secondary school certificate holders and intermediate diploma holders are on GL 04. Job roles include survey assistants, dental therapists and library clerks.
Entry level salary is about ₦49,000 per month, while the maximum on step 10 is ₦93,000 monthly for this category of middle level manpower.
GRADE LEVEL 05
GL 05 houses more advanced roles like agricultural extension officers and customs inspectors who possess Ordinary National Diploma certificates (OND).
Entry point income is about ₦55,000 with top earners on step 10 getting ₦100,000 per month. Various duty related benefits apply.
GRADE LEVEL 06
New graduates with Higher National Diploma Certificates (HND) enter here typically as scientific officers, engineers, educators and accountants.
GL 06/1 earn around ₦80,000 as starting salary. Step increments over the years climax at ₦170,000 on step 10 of this grade.
GRADE LEVEL 07
Fresh university degree holders join at this grade as economists, architects, medical doctors and planning officers. Income starts at ₦100,000 for GL 07/1 officers. After annual step rises, maximum takes home pay reaches ₦220,000 monthly. Uniform, housing and other conditional allowances also apply.
GRADE LEVEL 08
This houses experienced degree holders with at least six years relevant experience. Jobs include engineers, accountants, quantity surveyors and education administrators. Salary starts from ₦120,000 for entry level with provision for regular increases up to ₦220,000 after duration and performance reviews.
GRADE LEVEL 09
Principal managers including chief engineers, senior health specialists and directors overseeing key units and functions of ministries occupy this position. Besides base pay starting from ₦150,000 monthly, officers also get significant allowances taking total package to over ₦600,000 based on their step.
GRADE LEVEL 10
Experienced directors and heads of department are on this cadre. Their leadership responsibilities in government cut across services, ICT, finance and strategy. Average monthly salary ranges between ₦250,000 on entry to about ₦350,000 for veterans plus allowances.
GRADE LEVEL 11
This grade consists of directors-general, state coordinators of federal MDAs and heads of extra ministerial departments earning around ₦300,000 onwards. However with directors earning well above ₦1 million total monthly compensation considering vast allowances.
GRADE LEVEL 12
Categorized as deputy directors general and equivalents, officers here provide oversight and policy direction across varied MDA roles with significant public interfacing and stakeholder engagement. Starting salaries are around ₦350,000 excluding vast allowances bringing overall pay to over ₦1.2 million.
GRADE LEVEL 13
Substantive directors general of agencies, parastatal chiefs and state permanent secretaries belong to this class. Benefits start from ₦500,000 monthly outside major regular allowances that could double total take home. Officers have tenure and time limits for these elite public sector roles.
GRADE LEVEL 14
These are officers manning the most senior accounting positions like accountants general of the federation or permanent secretaries of specialized national priorities like health, strategy and communications.
Average monthly compensation exceeds ₦2.5 million based on consolidated pay structure.
GRADE LEVEL 15
This rare grade has roles like Surveyor General, Statistician General and Auditor General who offer high-level professional oversight cutting across extensive governmental agencies contributing immense value.
Salary figures are largely opaque but believed to exceed ₦3 million monthly in compensation given position sensitivity.
GRADE LEVEL 16
This exclusive grade has only twenty-something members made up of permanent secretaries in key economic federal ministries, and administrative heads of service coordinating broader policies. As pinnacle of career public service, they centralize operations of entire bureaucratic machinery.
Opacity means little official data but monthly earnings plus vast benefits likely climbs towards ₦5 million on average. As principal government advisers, compensations are bespoke.
CONCLUSION
The Abuja Civil Service Salary Structure provides pay guidelines for government workers across sixteen grade levels, from senior leaders to entry roles. Minimum wage is guaranteed for junior roles while top position holders earn in the multi-million naira range monthly, factoring in allowances.
However, there are calls for more regular salary and allowance reviews to keep serving officials motivated. This will help as there’s rising high cost of living, economic downturn, and high price of commodities.
