A senior lecturer in a Nigerian university matches Grade Level 14 (GL 14) in the civil service. On the university pay scale, the same rank is called CONUASS 05.
Senior lecturer grade level at a glance
| Item | Answer |
|---|---|
| University rank | Senior Lecturer |
| University pay scale | CONUASS 05 |
| Matching grade level | GL 14 |
| Civil service rank on GL 14 | Chief officer level, like Chief Accountant or Chief Technical Officer |
| Next rank up | Reader, on GL 15 |
Why a senior lecturer has two numbers, GL 14 and CONUASS 05
Lecturers don’t get paid on the civil service salary scale. The civil service uses CONPSS, which runs from GL 01 to GL 17. University lecturers use CONUASS, which runs from 01 to 07. Two scales, two sets of numbers.
So where does GL 14 come from? University schemes of service write a salary grade level next to every academic rank. In the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) scheme of service, Senior Lecturer is on CONUASS 05 and salary grade level 14. That is the GL 14 in this post.
The CONUASS 05 part is not only a UNN thing. Obafemi Awolowo University and Sule Lamido University also list Senior Lecturer as CONUASS 05.
The GL 14 number comes from the university’s own scheme of service, so check your university’s copy if you need it in writing.
Grade level of every lecturer rank and the civil service rank it matches
| Lecturer rank | University pay scale | Grade level | Civil service rank on that grade level (examples) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Assistant | CONUASS 01 | GL 08 | Higher Executive Officer |
| Assistant Lecturer | CONUASS 02 | GL 09 | Accountant I |
| Lecturer II | CONUASS 03 | GL 10 | Senior Accountant, Senior Administrative Officer |
| Lecturer I | CONUASS 04 | GL 12 | Principal Executive Officer I, Principal Administrative Officer |
| Senior Lecturer | CONUASS 05 | GL 14 | Chief Accountant, Chief Scientific Officer |
| Reader | CONUASS 06 | GL 15 | Assistant Director |
| Professor | CONUASS 07 | GL 16 | Deputy Director |
The grade levels are from the UNN scheme of service. The civil service titles are from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency promotion list, where Director is GL 17, Deputy Director is GL 16 and Assistant Director is GL 15.
Look at the jumps. Lecturer II is GL 10, Lecturer I is GL 12, Senior Lecturer is GL 14. GL 11 and GL 13 are skipped. That’s how the scheme is set.
The bottom of the ladder matches how the civil service treats certificates: bachelor’s degree at GL 08, master’s at GL 09, PhD at GL 10. A Graduate Assistant (GL 08), Assistant Lecturer (GL 09) and Lecturer II (GL 10) start on those same numbers. Our post on the education qualifications you need for government jobs in Nigeria has the full entry list. If you want to see how a lower grade looks in a real advert, check the INEC Grade Level 07 requirements.
How to become a senior lecturer in a Nigerian university
The UNN scheme gives two routes.
- Promotion from inside. You must be a confirmed Lecturer I for three years, and you must meet the rules in the university’s Yellow Book, the book that governs academic assessment and promotion.
- Direct appointment from outside. You need a postgraduate degree, preferably a PhD, plus at least five years of teaching and research in a university or a similar institution.
- Industrial experience and published papers count in your favour on the direct route.
After Senior Lecturer, the next rank is Reader. You can be promoted to Reader after three years as a confirmed Senior Lecturer, again under the Yellow Book.
The scheme doesn’t say how many publications you need. It sends you to the Yellow Book, and each university applies it in its own way. Ask your department before you plan your timeline. [LOCAL TIP: add a real detail from your own experience, for example how long promotion results take to come out at a federal university.]
A PhD takes years and money. Postgraduate funding posts go up in our Scholarships section.
Senior lecturer salary on the CONUASS 05 scale
CONUASS 05 has 13 steps, and each step adds ₦57,907 a year.
| Step | Annual basic salary | Monthly basic salary (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | ₦1,653,415 | ₦137,785 |
| Top step | ₦2,348,299 | ₦195,692 |
That is basic pay only. Allowances come on top, and the scale can be reviewed, so ask your university bursary for the current table.
Is GL 14 the same thing in a state civil service
States run their own civil service commissions, and each state sets its own detail. A job title on GL 14 in your state may not be the title on GL 14 at a federal agency.
The federal agency titles in this post may not match the titles on GL 14 in your state, so confirm with your state civil service commission before you compare.
What to do if you want to move from lecturing to the civil service or the other way round
- Ask the new employer, in writing, which grade level they will place you on. Don’t assume GL 14 follows you.
- Promotion works differently. In the civil service, you usually wait 3 to 4 years per grade level and then face an exam or evaluation, as we explained in skills that can get you promoted faster in Nigeria’s civil service. In a university, promotion follows the Yellow Book assessment.
- Keep your NYSC certificate and degree certificates ready. Both services ask for them, sha.
For more updates on Government Opportunities, check our Government Opportunities section.
