Oseni Rufai, anchor of Arise TV, has revealed information regarding the monthly salary of Nigerian ambassadors.
According to reports, President Bola Tinubu forwarded another group of 32 ambassadorial candidates to the Senate for review, which prompted his explanation.
Reno Omokri, former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu were among the names on this list, which came after three nominees were already submitted.
In a tweet, Rufai clarified that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consolidated Diplomatic, Consular, and Foreign Service Cadre Salary Structure governs ambassador pay.
When posted overseas, ambassadors are assigned to the highest grade level, typically GL 17, and are given several allowances.
He claimed that while the base salary is not as great as that of ambassadors in some other nations, the allowances account for a sizable portion of the total compensation.
Additionally, an ambassador’s compensation may vary depending on their expertise, the nation to which they are assigned, and fluctuations in exchange rates.
Rufai claims that the average monthly salary for an ambassador is between ₦800,000 and ₦1,200,000.
According to him, the basic salary ranges from ₦9.6 million to ₦14.4 million annually.
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 make in the public sector.
Additionally, he noted that an ambassador’s total income is not represented by their base pay alone.
Extra assistance is provided to those stationed overseas to help with official tasks, hardship, and high living expenses.
Depending on the nation in which they serve, these allowances increase their total monthly income to between ₦2 million and ₦5 million.
