Justice ministry lawyers’ robe allowance rises 233% to N1m
August 18, 2026 1:47 am
The Federal Government has increased the annual robe allowance for state counsel and legal officers in the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria from the previously reported N300,000 to N1m.
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission disclosed this in a circular dated July 14, 2026, signed by its Acting Secretary, Adighiogu A. Chiadi, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of federal commissions, agencies and government-owned companies, among others.
The commission said the review was approved by the Federal Government as part of a new allowance structure for State Counsel and Legal Officers in the Federal Public Service.
The circular, titled “Review of Robe Allowance for State Counsel and Legal Officers in the Federal Public Service,” stated, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the review of Robe Allowance for State Counsel and Legal Officers in the Federal Public Service.”
Under the new arrangement, State Counsel and legal officers employed in the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria will receive N1m per annum.
The commission also approved N600,000 annually for lawyers employed as legal officers in other ministries, departments and agencies who perform strictly legal functions.
The circular stated, “N1,000,000.00 per annum for both the state counsel and legal officers employed in the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria; and N600,000.00 per annum for lawyers employed as legal officers in other ministries, departments and agencies who perform strictly legal functions.”
The revised rates will take effect from January 1, 2027, with the commission directing the affected MDAs to fund the payments from their overhead allocations.
According to the circular, “The revised rates take effect from 1st January 2027, and will be funded from the overhead cost of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”
The new N1m rate represents an increase of N700,000, or about 233 per cent, over the N300,000 robe allowance previously reported for lawyers in the ministry.
The N600,000 approved for legal officers in other MDAs also represents a 100 per cent increase over the N300,000 previously reported for lawyers in the justice ministry.
The earlier N300,000 rate was disclosed in 2021 by the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), during the ministry’s budget defence before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Malami had disclosed that about 860 lawyers in the ministry were entitled to N300,000 each annually as robe allowance, putting the total expenditure at about N258m.
However, the latest NSIWC circular does not expressly state the previous allowance applicable to each category of legal officer covered by the new review.
The N300,000 figure is therefore the previously reported rate for lawyers in the Justice Ministry and should not be interpreted as a confirmed former rate for every category listed in the new circular.
Robe allowance is intended to support lawyers who are required to appear in court in the prescribed professional attire while representing the Federal Government or its agencies.
The latest review comes amid broader adjustments to public-sector remuneration and allowances as the Federal Government continues to review compensation arrangements across the public service.
The commission directed that all enquiries concerning the implementation of the new rates be forwarded to it.
The circular stated, “All enquiries concerning this circular should be directed to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.”
Deborah Tolu-Kolawole is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with four years of experience covering Nigeria’s vast education sector as well as related areas such as politics, health, security, and labour. She blends rigorous reporting with digital storytelling to bring clarity and insight to complex issues affecting learners, educators, and policymakers. Deborah was a nominee for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize in Journalism, recognising her impactful reporting and contributions to Nigerian media. Her work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism. In addition to her reporting, she is fluent in multiple languages and serves as a contributing member of The Punch editorial board.
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