What Do Nigerian Employees Really Want This Festive Season? 13th Month Salary or a Bag of Rice?

By Emmanuel Kwada 

We’ve officially entered that time of the year when work begins to wind down, feelings of festivity pick up and everyone can’t wait to close work for Christmas season however whether spoken or unspoken, one question is already circulating through office corridors and WhatsApp groups:

‎“So… what are we getting for the end of the year?”

Rice, oil, and other condiments are shared with employees as a Christmas bonus in Nigeria.

For millions of Nigerian workers, the end-of-year reward often narrows to a familiar options: a full 13th-month salary or the classic bag of rice accompanied by a festive hamper packed with cooking oil, seasoning, tomato paste, and perhaps a wrapper or other goodies.

Mrs Becky, a civil servant based in Abuja, summed up the practical side perfectly. “I would love it to be money because I have my cousin’s wedding to attend in the village. By the time I contribute for aso-ebi, transportation, I’ll be left with little that cannot even return me to Abuja. But if the Christmas bonus is monetised, it will help me a lot. Though I need the rice, I can still buy local rice, which is considerably cheaper than the one the office will give us, and still have some money to augment my salary.”

Security guard Mr Wisdom Emmanuel was unequivocal. “Let it be monetised ooh,” he declared. “I know where to buy cheap local rice that will double the one my office will give me, and I’ll still have some money to do other things; buy okrika for my kids and even send a little to my mum in the village.”

Mallam Abubakar, working with the FCDA, highlighted issues of fairness and accountability. “It is a gift that we can’t decide on, but if I’m to choose, money will be okay. The money released for this often gets corrupted—half of it will be used to buy what will be given to us. But if they monetise it, every staff will get the complete sum through their bank account.”

I would love it to be money because I have my cousin’s wedding to attend in the village. By the time I contribute for aso-ebi, transportation, I’ll be left with little that cannot even return me to Abuja.

Yet preferences vary. Mr Samson Joseph praised his employer’s consistent policy. “It has been so amazing in our organisation. A 13th-month salary is given to everyone this season, and it’s paid on the 15th of December for us to prepare for the celebration. Nobody complains. I love it to continue like this.”

Private school teacher Mrs Chioma Uchendu valued the personal touch of in-kind gifts. “Our proprietor has been giving us rice, tomato paste, Maggi, oil, and wrappers to the elderly women among us. I think it’s a good one for me because if she is giving us money, most of us won’t be able to get a reasonable sum—it’ll be based on our levels.”

Mr Musa Liman adopted a philosophical approach. “It’s a gift, so I don’t really care which one comes. I’m okay with either way.”

For employers, December forces tough choices on how to recognise a year’s hard work. While the 13th-month salary—equivalent to an extra month’s pay—is not legally mandated in Nigeria, many private companies and some government entities offer it as a cherished tradition.

Photo shows employees receiving their Christmas gifts.

In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno recently approved a “13th-month” bonus, dubbed “Eno-mber,” to be paid before December 20, alongside plans for Christmas rice distribution to villages.

Other governors have followed suit; Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde approved the 13th-month salary, while Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru gave a ₦150,000 cash bonus to every civil servant.

Other organisations opt for hampers, seeing them as thoughtful and equitable. But in a year where inflation has eased to around 14.45% in November—the lowest in over three years, yet food prices remain stubbornly high and household budgets stretched thin, cash resonates more deeply.

That familiar credit alert means flexibility: covering soaring transport fares for village trips, contributing to weddings or funerals, stocking up on school supplies, or simply surviving the notoriously long January.

Amid ongoing economic pressures, with poverty and food insecurity still affecting many despite recent reforms, employees overwhelmingly favour the breathing room that cash provides. Employers who monetise bonuses often report higher morale and fewer complaints, as workers feel empowered to prioritise their needs.

Whether it’s a direct bank transfer or a queued collection of rice bags, the underlying message remains the same: gratitude for a year’s dedication.

But for most Nigerian employees this season, nothing quite matches the relief and possibility of that extra salary hitting the account. In an economy where every naira counts, cash isn’t just king—it’s survival.

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