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FG Confirms New Minimum Wage Payment Will Only Cover Two Months of Arrears
The Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), has announced that the payment of the new minimum wage will commence in July 2024.
NSIWC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, made this statement during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, clarifying that this timeline aligns with when the President approved the bill, following its passage by the National Assembly.
This update contradicts an earlier statement by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who had indicated that the new wage would take effect from May 1, 2024.
Consequently, if payments begin by the end of October 2024, only two months of arrears will be paid.
Additionally, the Federal Government announced the approval of revisions to the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure and other related salary structures.
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Last week, the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants met and agreed that the implementation of the new minimum wage would officially begin on July 29, 2024. The committee also recommended that the previously discontinued wage award should be reinstated and paid up to July 28, 2024.
The committee, led by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, noted that economic conditions were considered before reaching this decision.
However, in an interview , Benson Upah, Head of Information at the Nigerian Labour Congress, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision, calling it “unacceptable” and criticizing the backdating to July.
Timmy Etim, National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, also voiced opposition, stating that since the Minister of State for Labour had previously promised that the new minimum wage would take effect in May, the government’s delay was unfair.
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In response, the NSIWC Chairman explained the rationale for the change, stating, “The President has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure effective July 29, 2024, which is the date the President assented to the act after receiving it from the National Assembly.”
Nta urged any federal public service entities that have not received a circular regarding the implementation to contact the NSIWC to ensure proper coordination and avoid disrupting salary structures.
He also noted that further directives would be issued on how pensioners, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and interns would benefit from the new minimum wage.
The revised templates include the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure, and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II, among others.
Additionally, the revisions cover salary structures for polytechnics, colleges of education, medical staff, health workers, paramilitary services, police, intelligence agencies, and the armed forces.
Nta concluded by referencing the NSIWC Amendment Act 2024 and the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Federal Government and the Trade Union sides of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on September 20, 2024, regarding the consequential salary adjustments from the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act.
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