The monthly salary of Nigerian ambassadors has been disclosed by Arise TV anchor Oseni Rufai.
According to reports, President Bola Tinubu forwarded 32 more ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for review, which prompted him to provide an explanation.
Former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Reno Omokri were among the names on this list, which came after an earlier submission of three nominations.
In a tweet, Rufai clarified that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consolidated Diplomatic, Consular, and Foreign Service Cadre Salary Structure governs ambassador wages.
When posted overseas, ambassadors are assigned to the highest grade level, typically GL 17, and are given distinct allowances.
According to him, the allowances make up a significant portion of the whole package, although the base pay is not as great as that of diplomats in some other nations.
Additionally, an ambassador’s compensation may vary depending on their expertise, the nation they are assigned to, and fluctuations in exchange rates.
Rufai claims that an ambassador’s base salary is between ₦800,000 and ₦1,200,000 per month.
The annual basic compensation ranges from ₦9.6 million to ₦14.4 million, he continued.
After accounting for inflation and the ₦70,000 minimum wage for 2025, these numbers are comparable to what other top officers at that grade level in the public service make.
Additionally, he noted that an ambassador’s total earnings are not represented by their base pay alone.
Extra assistance is provided to those stationed overseas to help with official responsibilities, hardship, and high living expenses.
Depending on the nation in which they serve, these benefits increase their total monthly income to between ₦2 million and ₦5 million.
