Monthly salary of Nigerian ambassadors revealed

Arise TV broadcaster, Oseni Rufai, has shed light on the monthly earnings of Nigerian ambassadors, following President Bola Tinubu’s latest list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the National Assembly.

Tinubu on Saturday forwarded 32 additional names to the Senate for confirmation, coming after an earlier batch of three nominees. Among those listed are former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Reno Omokri, and former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Rufai noted that ambassadorial pay falls under the Consolidated Diplomatic, Consular and Foreign Service Cadre Salary Structure (CONPSS), which guides compensation for senior Foreign Service officers. Ambassadors, he explained, typically operate at the highest grade levels, equivalent to GL 17, and receive extra allowances tied to foreign postings.

He pointed out that while the core salary appears modest by global standards, it is bolstered by significant support payments. Factors such as host country, experience level, and currency fluctuations also affect overall earnings.

According to the journalist, the “Basic salary of an ambassador includes a monthly basic pay of approximately N800,000 to N1,200,000 (about $485–$727 USD).” He added that this figure comes from the CONPSS scale for senior diplomatic officers, stressing that entry-level officers earn far less, at around N300,000 to N500,000 monthly.

“Annual Basic Salary: N9.6 million to N14.4 million (about $5,818–$8,727 USD).

“These figures align with general public sector pay for Grade Level 17 officers, adjusted for inflation and the 2025 minimum wage increase to N70,000,” he noted, adding that basic salary alone does not reflect the full remuneration package.

Rufai emphasized that diplomats posted abroad typically receive sizeable allowances to cover living expenses, representational costs, and hardship considerations. “Total monthly take-home pay often exceeds N2–5 million ($1,212–$3,030 USD), depending on the host country…”