Posted by By FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja on
The Federal Government has effected a slight increase in the salaries of the federal civil servants in the country.
The Federal Government has effected a slight increase in the salaries of the federal civil servants in the country.
Government put further smiles on the workers faces as it has also directed the stoppage of the five per cent monthly deduction from the salaries of all civil servants who had paid 10 percent deposit for any of the government quarters but instead be paid the normal rent subsidy since they now own the houses technically.
The decision to jerk up the workers salaries followed the sustained agitation for palliatives by labour in the wake of the increase in the pump price of petroleum products last year.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was learnt, gave approval for four percent increase in the transport allowance of the workers after a joint protest by the eight industrial unions in the public sector.
A letter dated, April 28, 2006, from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufot Ekaette referenced SGF.12/S.II/C.I/III/858 and addressed to the Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side), the collective bargaining body of the unions, said " In order to alleviate the plight of the federal civil servants, Mr. President has approved a 4 per cent increase in transport allowance in line with the extant circular"
It will be recalled that the salary increase is one of the demands of labour from government to cushion the effect of the fuel price increase. However government has since put in place other measures including the provision of mass transit buses with low fares in partnership with state governments.
The JNPSNC had March 10 wrote President Obasanjo through the SGF intimating him of the dwindling living conditions of the federal civil servants owing to the fuel price increase and perceived anomaly in the conduct of the sale exercise of government houses and quarters.
The workers lamented that the refusal of government to add a kobo to the salaries of the civil servants despite the increase in fuel price ten times in the life of the present administration and the many recommendations from committees set up in the wake of each increase.
The unions argued that the mode of the sales would possibly put the civil servants at advantage following the difficulty being encountered in sourcing for money to pay the 10 per cent initial deposit for the houses and the consequence of forfeiture of the deposits and the house in the event of the inability to pay the second 10 per cent deposit within the stipulated time frame.
The workers' council therefore prayed the President to intervene and approve that the initial deposit already paid should serve as basis for ownership of the staff quarters offered for sale pending the activation of mortgage facility to pay the balance.
They also requested a Presidential approval that no worker should be penalized for failure to pay the second 10 per cent deposit and a stoppage of rent deductions from officers that have paid the mandatory deposit so as to enhance their capacity to service the loan.