The Nigerian Labour Congress is currently in a clash with the Nigerian Government due to the government’s failure to continue paying the N35,000 minimum wage to workers.
According to interviews conducted with workers in the Federal Civil Service, it was revealed that the Federal Government only paid the N35,000 wage for the month of September.
In response to President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy upon assuming office, the Federal Government agreed to pay each of its workers a minimum wage of N35,000 in order to alleviate the hardships caused by the subsidy removal.
A memo issued by the Chairman of the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission, Ekpo Nta, stated that the payment of this wage award would commence on September 1, 2023.
However, investigations have shown that the government has only made a single payment for the wage award, which was for the month of September.
A high-ranking civil servant from one of the core ministries, departments, and agencies expressed, “The wage award was only paid once, and I believe that was for September. Since then, we have not received any further payments.”
A high-ranking government official within one of the central ministries, departments, and agencies revealed, “The payment for the wage award was made only once, and I believe that was for the month of September. Since then, we have not received any further payments. The lack of official communication from the government regarding this matter has left us all perplexed. At present, we are all in a state of confusion.”
Another government employee, who spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymity, confirmed, “The information you heard is accurate. Apart from the initial payment for the wage award, we have not received any additional funds. It is unfair for the government to continue subjecting its citizens to such hardship. Our take-home salaries are no longer sufficient to meet our basic needs.”
Furthermore, a civil servant working at one of the Federal Government-owned schools in Abuja expressed, “We have only been paid the wage award for one month. I assume it was for September. Although we still receive the special allowance introduced by the previous administration alongside our regular salaries, we have not received any form of wage award. The government must put an end to these mind games and treat us with respect.”
It is clear that there is a widespread concern among civil servants regarding the absence of additional payments for the wage award. The lack of communication from the government has created confusion and frustration among employees who are struggling to make ends meet. It is imperative that the government addresses this issue promptly and provides clarity to alleviate the anxieties of its hardworking workforce.
The Head of information at the Nigeria Labour Congress, Benson Upah, in an interview with our correspondent said, “This betrays the government’s dishonorable intentions and is completely unacceptable.”
When asked if the NLC would take action, he said, “Certainly, the congress will do something about this but what it will do will be dependent on the appropriate organs of the congress. On communication with the government, sure, we will. It usually precedes our actions.”
But the spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday allayed fears of civil servants. Mokwa noted that plans were ongoing to ensure that civil servants receive their wage awards.
“The process is ongoing. They will be paid. The process to pay the wage awards has commenced.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has budgeted N1tn for minimum wage adjustments, promotion arrears and severance benefits for civil servants, an analysis of the 2024 appropriation budget released by the Budget Office of the Federation has revealed.
This is as the head of information of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Upah further explained to our correspondent that the congress would kick against any form of imposition of a new minimum wage by the Federal Government.
Upah told news correspondent in Abuja that negotiations had yet to commence, but he expressed optimism that talks on the new minimum wage would start soon.
“No, not yet but soon, I suppose,” Upah said when asked if the congress had received notice for the commencement of negotiations surrounding the new minimum wage.
Upah said, “ The national minimum wage law is a product of collective negotiation by all the critical stakeholders, workers, employers (plus private sector), and government.
It cannot be fixed by fiat by any stakeholder. Thus, any unilateral action by any party will not only be presumptuous but contemptuous and injurious to other parties and will certainly be at variance with the law and principles governing this variant of minimum wage-setting procedure.”
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