The Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), has announced that the payment of the new minimum wage will start from July 29, 2024. This decision was disclosed by NSIWC Chairman Ekpo Nta during a press briefing in Abuja.
Nta clarified that the July date aligns with the President’s approval of the bill following its passage by the National Assembly. This announcement contradicts an earlier statement from Minister of State for Labour Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who indicated that payments would commence on May 1, 2024.
As a result of this decision, the government will only be responsible for two months’ worth of arrears if payments begin by the end of October. The commission also announced the approval of a revision to the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure and other salary frameworks.
Last week, the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants convened and agreed to set the effective date for the new minimum wage implementation at July 29, 2024. They also recommended the resumption of wage awards, which had been previously halted, to be paid up until July 28, 2024.
The committee, chaired by Head of Civil Service of the Federation Didi Walson-Jack, noted that the government considered the country’s economic circumstances before making its decisions. However, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) criticized the government’s backdating of the wage implementation.
Benson Upah, Head of Information for the NLC, deemed the backdating to July as “not fair” and “unacceptable.” Timmy Etim, the TUC National Vice President, echoed these sentiments, arguing that the government should honor the May Day commitment made by the Minister of State for Labour.
In response to the backlash, Nta emphasized, “The President has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure with effect from July 29, 2024.” He added that any federal public service entity lacking a circular from the NSIWC should reach out for further directives to ensure coordinated implementation, which is crucial to maintaining salary relativity within the federal public service.
Nta also mentioned that the NSIWC would provide additional guidelines on how pensioners, NYSC members, and interns would benefit from the new wage implementation. He detailed several revised salary templates, including those for research institutions, universities, polytechnics, and the military, which were necessitated by the enactment of the NSIWC Amendment Act 2024 and agreements reached with the Trade Union side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.