FG must assess employees’ benefits, not pay, says Ngige

Senator Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment, has refuted reports that the federal government was examining the pay for public and civil officials.

Ngige told State House Correspondents in Abuja that the pay and benefits of the impacted employees, particularly civil servants, would be increased.

The minister’s statement, which was signed by the Head of Public Relations at the Ministry, Mr. Olajide Oshundun, said that it wasn’t true.

The statement said, “Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has been told that the FG is reviewing the pay of public and civil servants. This was because he talked to State House Correspondents after his recent meeting with Mr. President.”

“The minister wishes to make it clear that the increase he mentioned was on the wages and benefits of the impacted employees, particularly the government servants.”

According to the statement, the Presidential Committee on Salaries received suggestions for the review of numerous ministries, departments, and agencies of the government’s allowances through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

READ ALSO: Full November salary for ASUU is paid, but 8-month arrears are withheld

The committee addressed the allowances component of the proposals, including the special allowance for federal civil servants, among others, because the salary component is not currently being evaluated by the committee.

The government says that compensation, which is also called emolument or remuneration, is made up of a wage and an earned allowance.

Therefore, the FG, through the PCS, could not have engaged in the salary review without involving the workers through their unions, represented by these two labour federations of workers in Nigeria: the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. Salary review or renegotiation is part of social dialogue, and the result is typically a collective bargaining agreement that is generally agreed to by both parties—employers and employees.

For the avoidance of doubt, the minister made it clear to the press corps that it was still a work in progress and that the final results of this allowances review would be submitted to Mr. President for consideration and final approval. The minister also informed the president that this was one of the labour issues he briefed him on that day. It is anticipated that this appropriate action, which the FG took on humane grounds without being prompted or threatened with a strike, will serve to mitigate the crippling impacts of increasing inflation, particularly that which affects food and energy prices (electricity and petroleum products).

“The committee is hopeful that Mr. President will receive and take into consideration the suggestions before the end of the first quarter of 2023,” the minister added in the statement.