Public servants in many states may have to wait for more time to start receiving the N70,000 minimum wage, investigation has revealed.
This is because the consequential adjustment scale detailing the pay of every worker from the lowest to the highest ranking officer under the new dispensation is yet to be released to the states by the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
Reports from our correspondents across the country showed that while most of the states have expressed commitment to the payment of the new minimum wage, it appears their implementation of the new wage structure is being slowed down by the non-issuance of the document yet by the commission.
However, Adamawa State has started paying the new wage to its workers while those on the pay roll of the local governments in the state are due to start benefitting next month.
Labour leaders in Delta State specifically requested a stay of action by the state government “in the best interest of workers.”
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in the state, Mr. Goodluck Ofobruku, and his Trade Union (TUC) counterpart, Mr. Martins Bolum, said in Asaba yesterday that this was necessary because labour was yet to receive from Abuja the enabling circular on the issue.
Ofobruku assured workers that they had nothing to fear as the funds for the new minimum wage are already in this year’s budget.
He said: “We asked the government to step down the issue of the new minimum wage until we see the template.
“As we speak, we’ve been informed that the salary adjustments for levels 1 to 5 are ready while levels 6 and above will be finalised in about two weeks.
“However, some of us objected to this phased approach because there has never been a time where implementation starts with the junior cadre first.
“If we start with the junior staff, it could lead to discrepancies where a Level 1 Step 1 worker earns ₦70,000 while a Level 5 worker earns ₦100,000, and a Level 8 officer earns less than ₦80,000. This could cause demotivation among workers.”
Kano committee yet to submit report
The committee set up by the Kano State Government to advise it on the process of implementing the new minimum wage is yet to submit its report.
Information Commissioner Baba Dantiye, who is also a member of the committee, said yesterday that the panel still has a lot of ground to cover, citing “so many adjustments to be done based on the data available.”
It was gathered that consequential adjustments have already been done with regard to officers on levels one to six only.
Chairman of the local NLC, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, told The Nation that labour was expecting from the NSIWC the consequential adjustment table which would guide it in its negotiations with the state government.
The Nation
