President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero has reacted to the Federal Government’s announced 25% to 35% salary increase for civil servants as “mischievous.”
Ajaero stated this in reaction to the salary increment in an interview on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” on Wednesday, on the occasion celebrating the 2024 Workers’ Day celebrations.
The NLC President said, “The announcement appears mischievous because there is no wage increment that government is announcing,” Ajaero stated.
He averred that the timing of the announcement was particularly concerning, given that the previous minimum wage agreement had just expired.
“For them to announce it now, it is an issue that we are worried about at the NLC and even at the TUC,” he continued.
A spokesperson from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Emmanuel Njoku had previously stated on Tuesday, that the increase would be effective from January 1, 2024.
The NLC president however expressed frustration over the stalled discussions for a new minimum wage saying, “Discussions were supposed to have been concluded. The Federal Government through the National Assembly legislated on it. But we saw that the discussion entered ‘voice mail’ because the Federal Government refused to reconvene the meeting that was adjourned.”
In January, the Federal Government had initiated a 37-man Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage tasked with recommending a new wage standard.
He however noted that the recommendations of the tripartite committee have not yet been implemented.
Ajaero argued that the current minimum wage does not meet the needs of Nigerian workers, highlighting that not all state governors are complying with the wage law.
He proposed a living wage of N615, 000 to ensure the basic wellbeing of civil servants. “Living wage is such that will, at least, keep you alive. It is not a wage that will make you poor and poorer,” he explained.
Detailing the components of the proposed ‘living wage,’ Ajaero listed monthly allocations for housing – N40,000; electricity, N20,000; utilities, N10,000; kerosene and gas – N25,000 to N35,000; food for a family of six – N270,000; medical expenses – N50,000; clothing – N20,000; education – N50,000, and sanitation – N10,000.
He fixed transportation costs for N110, 000 due to the location of workers’ residing on the city fringes and the high cost of petrol.
Ajaero urged that the breakdown should be subjected to further scrutiny, asserting, “I want anyone to subject this to further investigation and find out whether there will be any savings when you pay somebody on this rate.”
The increment announced by the Federal Government affects various salary structures including the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), among others.