FG Reverses Course And Announces The Effective Date Of The New Minimum Salary

The Federal Government, FG, announced that despite the ongoing negotiations of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage, workers will not face any losses as the new minimum wage is set to be implemented starting on May 1, 2024. The Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, conveyed this message during the May Day celebration in Abuja.

Platinumpost had previously reported that the Federal Government approved a salary increase ranging from 25% to 35% for civil servants under the six existing consolidated salary structures, which include CONPSS, CONRAISS, CONPOSS, CONPASS, CONICCS, and CONAFSS.

According to a statement by Emmanuel Njoku, the Head of Press at the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the salary increments are effective January 1, 2024. The Minister expressed regret that the new national minimum wage was not finalized in time for this year’s Workers’ Day but assured ongoing consultations to expedite the process.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have consistently urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to expedite the wage review process. Recently, organized labor demanded a new minimum wage of N615,000 to address the economic challenges and high living costs in Nigeria.

The labor unions highlighted that the current N30,000 minimum wage is insufficient to support the average Nigerian worker’s well-being, noting that some governors have not been compliant with the wage award that expired in April, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.