Nigerian TV Host, Oseni Rufai Reveals Salary Of Newly Nominated Ambassadors

Arise TV host Oseni Rufai has revealed new insights into the monthly earnings of Nigerian ambassadors.

His explanation came after President Bola Tinubu sent another batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening.

This list followed an earlier submission of three nominees and included names such as former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Reno Omokri, and former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Rufai, in a tweet, explained that the salaries of ambassadors fall under the Consolidated Diplomatic, Consular and Foreign Service Cadre Salary Structure used in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassadors are placed at the top grade level, usually GL 17, and receive different allowances when posted abroad.

He said that the basic pay is not high when compared with what diplomats earn in some other countries, but the allowances make up a large part of the complete package.

Pay can also differ based on the country an ambassador is sent to, their experience, and changes in exchange rates.

According to Rufai, the basic monthly pay for an ambassador ranges from about ₦800,000 to ₦1,200,000.

He added that the yearly basic pay falls between ₦9.6 million and ₦14.4 million.

These figures are in line with what other top officers at that grade level earn in the public service after adjustments for inflation and the 2025 minimum wage of ₦70,000.

He also pointed out that the basic salary alone does not show the full earnings of an ambassador.

Those posted abroad get extra support to cover high living costs, hardship, and official duties.

These allowances raise their total monthly earnings to between ₦2 million and ₦5 million, depending on the country where they serve.

Salary of a Nigerian Ambassador
The salary of a Nigerian ambassador, as a senior Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is governed by the Consolidated Diplomatic, Consular and Foreign Service Cadre Salary Structure (CONPSS) in the Nigerian public service.…

— oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) November 29, 2025