The National Mathematical Centre (NMC) Abuja is one of Nigeria’s leading institutions in research and capacity development in the mathematical sciences. It has been pivotal in advancing the education and training of mathematics, statistics, computer science, theoretical physics, and related fields in the country.
Employees, whether academic, research, administrative, or support, should have access to the 2025 salary scale for the Centre to know the potential earnings for career growth or salary negotiations.
This post aims to outline what is available and what could be reasonably projected regarding the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) Salary Structure (2025), which includes:
- Grade-level breakdowns
- Basic pay versus allowances
- Comparisons with other public/federal institutions
- Salary determinants in NMC
- Data gaps regarding the salary scale
WHAT DATA IS OUT THERE
One notable data point is the average salary for the one position sampled (one job title) — Lecturer II — is approximately ₦705,610/month according to mysalaryscale.
Nevertheless, the available public information about NMC’s pay structure is quite limited. As of late -2025, the Centre itself does not seem to have posted publicly a comprehensive salary scale, which should include a grade scale and corresponding basic salary and allowances for each categorization of staff, which is why much of what is presented below must borrow from:
- The federal salary structure (for example, CONUASS, CONTISS, CONPSS) and other similar federal government salary structures.
- Practices at similar federal tertiary or research institutions
- Allowance norms in the Nigerian public service
The Federal Pay Structure Context
To understand the salary structure at NMC, it is useful to know how salaries work at federal institutions. The relevant salary frameworks include:
- CONUASS (Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure): applicable to the academics working in universities and comparable federal research institutions
- CONTISS: covering non‑academic staff (clerical, technical, administrative) of federal agencies, parastatals, research centres etc.
- CONPSS: This is the public service salary structure for some federal/state civil service positions, and it is applicable in other public service roles.
These frameworks capture the grade level (GL) and steps in each grade, the fundamental pay, and the allowances that come with it.
For the non‑academic staff, the CONTISS levels estimated as of 2025 are around ₦120,000 – ₦270,000 for lower grade levels, and for high-level directors, it goes up to ₦1,000,000+.
Also, under CONUASS, the rank progression for academics (Lecturer II, Lecturer I, Senior Lecturer, Reader / Associate Prof, Professor) currently comes with different basic pay and additional allowances, with the Professor in many institutions likely having around ₦500,000‑₦600,000 basic pay (or more) along with transport, housing, research, and several other allowances. This shows the considerable pay difference that exists in the same system.
Estimated National Mathematical Centre (NMC) 2025 Salary Structure
Considering NMC is a federal research/education centre, its salary bands are comparable to other federal academic & research institutions.Although possibly adjusted for specialized research or work environment.
Below is an estimate of what NMC pays its staff in 2025, based on available averages and comparisons. These are approximate, for basic pay; actual take‑home can differ after allowances.
| Staff Category / Rank | Estimated Basic Pay (₦/month) | Allowances & Perks (housing, transport, research, etc.) |
| Academic / Research Staff | ||
| Lecturer II | ₦450,000 – ₦500,000 | housing, research allowance, teaching load, publication incentives etc. |
| Lecturer I | ₦550,000 – ₦600,000 | similar allowances higher; more senior responsibility |
| Senior Lecturer | ₦650,000 – ₦750,000 | research grants, supervising, possibly leadership roles |
| Associate Professor / Reader | ₦700,000 – ₦800,000+ | greater administrative duties and reputational incentives |
| Professor | ₦800,000 – ₦1,000,000+ | top academic leadership, external grants, national/international recognition |
| Non‑Academic / Administrative / Support Staff | Estimated Basic Pay (₦/month) | Allowances & Perks |
| Entry Level / Clerical / Technical | ₦120,000 – ₦250,000 | allowances for transport, housing if applicable, medical etc. |
| Mid‑Level Officers / Technologists / Librarians | ₦300,000 – ₦600,000 | higher allowances, possibly housing and more leadership responsibilities |
| Senior Management / Directors / Heads | ₦800,000 – ₦1,500,000+ | often with cars, housing, premium allowances, etc. |
Note: The above estimates are not official NMC figures but are drawn from comparison with CONUASS/CONTISS norms, average salary reports (including the ₦705,610 figure for Lecturer II at NMC) etc.
Key Allowances & Benefits at NMC
Housing / Accommodation Allowance
Transport Allowance
Medical / Health Insurance
Research Grants / Publication Incentives
Leave and Vacation Allowance
Professional Development / Capacity Building / Conference Allowance
Possibly hardship or risk allowances (if working in special conditions)
Factors That Determine Your Salary at NMC
Your pay at NMC will depend on a few elements.
- Your academic rank influences what you will earn. For example, as a lecturer, senior lecturer, or a full professor, you will get paid more.
- Experience and time in service matter as well. The more experiences you have, the greater your pay will be.
- Higher pay goes to those with a PhD and more published works.
- Your department influences your pay too. If you bring in a lot of money through your research, you will receive extra pay.
- Extra pay also goes to those with administrative responsibilities. Heads of departments and university directors get paid more.
- NMC’s pay will depend on government funding as well.
- Your location will also affect your pay. Housing and cost-of-living allowances differ based on whether you are in Abuja or outside of Abuja.
Comparison: NMC vs Other Federal Institutions
To compare, NMC’s pay against other institutions can help contextualize it.
- University Lecturers across Nigeria under CONUASS often have basic salaries in the lower hundreds of thousands to ~ ₦500‑₦600k for senior ranks, before allowances.
- National Universities Commission (NUC) administrative and academic support salaries (non‑academic) are estimated in some sources to range up to ~ ₦700,000 for Professor level in certain scenarios.
- Non‑academic staff in federal agencies often start lower but can reach comparable levels for senior roles.
Given that, the ₦705,610/month sample for Lecturer II at NMC suggests that NMC’s pay may already be above average for some institutions — especially after including allowances.
Gaps & What We Don’t Know
- The exact official pay scale for NMC (every grade level and step).
- How much in different allowances (housing, research, transport) are specific to NMC.
- Whether there have been recent salary adjustments at NMC in 2025 (government-mandated increments, inflation adjustments).
- If some roles have special pay scales (e.g., for visiting researchers, contract staff).
Tips for Employees & Prospective Staff
- When negotiating or evaluating an offer, remember to request basic pay + full breakdown of allowances.
- Consider total compensation instead of basic pay. Allowances are a game changer.
- Keep a record of experience, publications, and responsibilities. These significantly help with promotions.
- Compare your expected salary with similar roles in universities, research institutes, or government agencies in Abuja / Nigeria.
- Pay attention to government budget announcements and salary review commissions. These often result in adjustments to federal pay scales.
Conclusion
While the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) Salary Structure (2025) for every grade level at NMC are not public, the data we have, particularly the ₦705,610/month for Lecturer II, and the salary structure in federal academic & research institutions suggests that NMC salary structure in 2025 should still be competitive with many other institutions.