Arise TV host Rufai Oseni has shared fresh details about the salary structure of Nigeria’s New Ambassador Nominees. His breakdown followed President Bola Tinubu’s recent submission of 32 new ambassadorial nominees to the Senate.
This second list came after an earlier batch of three nominees and featured notable figures like Mahmood Yakubu, Reno Omokri, and former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Rufai explained on X that ambassador salaries fall under the Consolidated Diplomatic, Consular and Foreign Service Cadre used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He noted that ambassadors usually occupy Grade Level 17 and also receive several allowances when deployed abroad.
He said Nigeria pays ambassadors modest basic salaries compared with diplomats in wealthier nations. However, he stressed that allowances significantly increase their total compensation. Furthermore, he explained that earnings vary based on the host country, the ambassador’s experience, and exchange-rate changes.
According to Rufai, ambassadors earn between ₦800,000 and ₦1,200,000 monthly as basic pay. He added that their yearly basic earnings range from ₦9.6 million to ₦14.4 million. He also stated that these figures align with what other senior public officers earn under the adjusted 2025 wage structure.
Rufai emphasized that the basic salary alone does not reflect an ambassador’s complete earnings. Those posted abroad receive additional allowances to cover high living costs, hardship conditions, and official responsibilities. Moreover, he explained that these extra payments push total monthly earnings to between ₦2 million and ₦5 million, depending on the posting country.
