- Armed Forces, Police Among Beneficiary Of New 25-35% Salary Increase
- Pensioners Receive Between 20-28 Percent Hike On Defined Benefits Scheme
- NLC Rejects Electricity Tariff Increase, Says Nigerians Dying In Droves
As a way of saying thank you to Nigerian workers as they celebrate the annual Workers Day today, the Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25% and 35% in salary for civil servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures.
The salary structures are the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) and Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS).
Others are the Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
This development was contained in a statement signed by Emmanuel Njoku, head of press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
The statement further revealed that the Federal Government has also approved increases In pension of between 20% and 28% for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme in respect to the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from 1st January 2024.
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However, The Matrix could not independently confirm if this increase is part of the new Minimum Wage being negotiated with the members of the organised labour.
The statement from NSIWC said the increases would be effected in arrears from January 1, 2024.
“The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent in salary for civil servants on the remaining six consolidated salary structures.”
“In line with the provisions of Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Federal Government has also approved increases in pension of between 20 per cent and 28 per cent for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme in respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from January 1, 2024,” the NSIWC stated.
It would be recalled that those in the tertiary education and health sectors had already received their increases, which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure, and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure for Universities.
For polytechnics and colleges of education, it involved the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure, and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure.
The health sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure.
Prior to 2024, Nigerian civil servants had been advocating for a salary raise. Negotiations included talks of a 40 per cent increase, but an agreement was reached for a range of increases between 25 per cent and 35 per cent to be implemented in January 2024. This increase applies to federal civil servants under various consolidated salary structures.
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Also, Nigerian labour unions have been pushing for a significant increase in the minimum wage of workers across the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress had initially proposed N615,000 per month, while the Trade Union Congress suggested figures ranging from N447,000 to N850,000 depending on the region.
The unions argue the current minimum wage (which expired in April 2024 is insufficient due to rising inflation and the high cost of living.
Talks are ongoing, and the unions have revised their demands downwards. NLC now seeks around N500,000 while considering proposals from their state chapters.
Negotiations were influenced by recent events like the electricity tariff hike, justifying the union’s argument for a higher raise. A final decision is expected by May 1, 2024 (May Day).
Efforts to get Festus Usifo, President of the Trade Union Congress TUC, to speak on the increase proved abortive as the lines were unreachable as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the NLC’s spokesperson, Benson Upah bemoaned the state of the economy which he described as unbearable.
Upah was reacting to a statement by the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, who said the whole country would be in a total blackout if the electricity tariff was not increased.
Faulting the minister, he stated, “ They (the government) are not just threatening the survival of Nigerians, they are killing Nigerians in droves.’’
On whether Nigerians could continue to survive the recent hike and state of the economy, Upah said, “Enough, it is enough.”
