Fed Govt: why new minimum wage implementation is delayed

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita has described as unrealistic the percentage increas being demanded by workers’ representatives in the Joint National Public Negotiation Council (JNPNC).

The HoCSF blamed the delay in the payment of the 30,000 new minimum wage to workers of the payroll of the Federal Government on the rejection of the staggered increment being proposed by the federal team.

She feared the kickoff in the payment might be delayed further if senior civil servants refuse to back down on their demand.

President Muhammadu Buhari directed the implementation of the new wage for civil servants, earning below N30, 000 before the signing of the minimum wage bill into law on April 18.

Negotiation between the Federal Government and the JNPNC broke down two weeks ago because of differences in the method to adopt for the consequential adjustment for civil servants on grade level seven and above.

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The federal team in the technical committee is proposing 9.5 per cent increase for workers on levels 07 to 14 and five per cent for those on levels 15 to 17 but labour is demanding a 30 per cent salary increase for workers on levels 07 to 14 and 25 per cent for workers on levels 15 to 17.

Mrs. Oyo-Ita said in Abuja yesterday that the President Buhari-led government remained committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage

Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Monday, that HoCSF urged Labour to review its demands.

She said: “President Buhari is keen on the implementation of new minimum wage and that is why the committee set up on the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage has been meeting unions within Labour unions and public service to arrive at a consequential adjustment.

“There were a few, not very realistic demands, from the unions and so as not to continue delaying the implementation of the well thought out and dear policy of the President, we have to go ahead and seek his approval for the implementation while we continue discussion on the consequential adjustment.”

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), the umbrella body for senior civil servants has said that its members would not accept the government circular on the implementation.

It insisted that it will be left with no choice than to call its members out on a national strike if the government failed to meet their demand.