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Labour Protest as FG Backdates Minimum Wage Implementation to July
The Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants convened on Friday to discuss the new minimum wage template and agreed to set the effective date for the ₦70,000 minimum wage at July 29, 2024.
This decision was outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) released after the meeting, which was attended by representatives in Abuja.
Additionally, the committee recommended that the wage award previously discontinued by the government should continue until July 28, 2024. Led by Didi Walson-Jack, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the committee acknowledged the economic situation in the country as a key factor in their discussions.
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“The committee held four meetings, considering presentations from both the Federal Government and Trade Union representatives.
It evaluated the government’s capacity to implement any consequential salary adjustments arising from the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the implications for other employers,” the MOU stated.
The document further recommended that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) develop the appropriate salary templates for other consolidated salary structures.
It confirmed that the effective implementation date would be July 29, 2024, and that the wage award outlined in the NS/WC Circular SWC.04/T/33 dated October 19, 2023, would remain in effect until July 28, 2024.
The MOU also urged the Federal Government to take necessary measures to alleviate the challenges faced by federal workers due to recent increases in petrol prices, including potential tax waivers and other incentives. It called for the NSIWC to collaborate with stakeholders to monitor implementation in accordance with the Act.
However, Benson Upah, Head of Information for the Nigerian Labour Congress, criticized the government’s decision in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, calling it unacceptable. “Backdating to July is unfair and not acceptable,” he stated.
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Timmy Etim, National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, echoed these sentiments, noting that the Minister of State for Labour had previously announced that the new minimum wage would take effect on May 1.
He expressed disappointment over the government’s reversal, questioning the rationale behind the change and urging that the effective date should reflect the signing of the Act.
Meanwhile, civil servants have voiced their frustration over the delay in implementing the new minimum wage. In Ogun State, some expressed concerns about the government’s perceived insensitivity to the economic struggles of citizens.
A public school teacher, Ms. Oladele, lamented that her family was barely surviving amidst rising costs, calling the government’s inaction “wickedness.”
Another worker, Adesola, criticized the government for neglecting the economic hardships faced by many Nigerians, stating that the delayed implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage is inadequate in the current inflationary environment.
A civil servant from the Ministry of Water Resources in Osun State, who wished to remain anonymous, remarked that the delay amounts to shortchanging workers, emphasizing that rising fuel prices are exacerbating the situation.
In Port Harcourt, Oyas, an employee of the National Identity Management Commission, highlighted the impact of increasing fuel prices on livelihoods, stating, “My salary is insufficient due to the rising cost of living, and I’ve resorted to using public transport as a result.”
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