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In a surprising move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given his approval for a new minimum wage for Federal civil servants. The wage increase, set at N35,000, will take effect starting from September 1, 2023. This decision was communicated through an official memo from the Presidency, and the memo was signed by Ekpo U. O. Nta, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
This important circular was distributed to several high-ranking officials and government bodies, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, various Ministers and Ministers of State, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Chairmen of Federal Commissions, Federal Permanent Secretaries, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Secretary of the National Judicial Council, the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, Directors-General, and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies, and Government-Owned Companies, the Auditor-General for the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation.
The memo, dated 19 October 2023, referenced the Memorandum of Understanding that had been reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Monday, 2 October 2023. This understanding had been reached in response to a dispute that had arisen due to the withdrawal of the subsidy on the price of premium motor spirit (PMS).
In this memo, it was conveyed that the President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, had approved a wage award of N35,000 per month for all Federal Government workers. This increase will come into effect on 1 September 2023, and it will remain in place until a new national minimum wage is signed into law.
The memo also outlined the funding arrangements for this wage increase. Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies that are funded from the treasury will have their wage increases funded from the treasury. On the other hand, non-treasury funded Federal Government agencies will be responsible for implementing the wage increase from their internally generated funds.
This decision marks a significant step in addressing the concerns of Federal civil servants and ensuring that they receive fair compensation for their work. It is expected to have a positive impact on the livelihoods of many civil servants across the country.