The Federal Government has announced that the payment of the newly revised minimum wage will officially begin in July 2024. This was disclosed by Ekpo Nta, Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), during a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Nta, the July 29, 2024, start date aligns with when President Bola Tinubu approved the bill after it was passed by the National Assembly. This decision contradicts an earlier statement by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who had assured workers that the payment would commence on May 1, 2024.
Nta further explained that if payments begin by October 2024, the government would only owe two months’ arrears. The Federal Government has also approved revisions to the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and other related salary frameworks.
The announcement comes after the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants, headed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, finalized discussions regarding the new minimum wage template. The committee agreed that the implementation of the wage would take effect from July 29, 2024. Additionally, the committee recommended that the wage award, which had been previously discontinued, be paid up until July 28, 2024.
However, labor unions have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have criticized the delayed start date. Benson Upah, Head of Information for the NLC, described the backdating of the wage implementation to July as “unfair” and “unacceptable.” Timmy Etim, National Vice President of the TUC, echoed similar concerns, stating that the government should honor its initial promise to begin payments in May.
In response, Nta clarified that the wage implementation could not take effect earlier than July 29, 2024, as this was the date when the President assented to the bill. He also called on federal public service agencies that have not yet received official directives to reach out to the NSIWC to prevent an uncoordinated implementation that could disrupt salary structures.
The wage revision will affect various sectors, including research institutions, universities, polytechnics, medical professionals, and the armed forces. Nta also noted that guidelines on how pensioners, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and interns will benefit from the new wage structure will be provided in due course.
The decision to implement the new minimum wage follows the enactment of the NSIWC Amendment Act of 2024 and a Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 20 between the Federal Government and the Trade Union sides of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.
Labor leaders, however, remain firm in their stance that the delay will adversely impact workers, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing economic challenges.