The Federal Government has approved an increase in duty tour allowances (DTAs) for its ministers, permanent secretaries and civil servants on grade level 1 to 17.
DTA is the amount the government pays to a public servant on an official trip.
The new allowances were revealed by the Chairperson of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, citing President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval.
A government circular dated August 31, 2022 said the new allowances take effect from September 1.
Nta said: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the upward review of duty tour allowances applicable to Permanent Secretary/equivalent from N20,000 to N70,000, and to minister/SGF/HCSF/equivalent from N35,000 to N80,000.
“All enquiries relating to this circular should be directed to the commission.”
A breakdown of the new DTAs is presented below:
• Grade level (GL) 01-04 and its equivalent – N10,000 per diem
• GL 05-06 and its equivalent – N15,000 per diem
• GL 07-10 and its equivalent – N17,500 per diem
• GL 12-13 and its equivalent – N20,000 per diem
• GL 14-15 and its equivalent – N25,000 per diem
• GL 16-17 and its equivalent – N37,500 per diem
• Permanent secretary/equivalent – N70,000 per diem
• Minister/SGF/HCSF/equivalent – N80,000 per diem
In August, President Buhari had said there was a need for an urgent salary review in the federal civil service owing to the high inflation rate across the world.
According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Nigeria’s inflation rate surged to 19.64 percent in July 2022, up from 18.60 percent in the previous month.