- NLC rejects 35% pay rise, insists on living wage
- Lagos ‘ll implement new minimum wage approved by FG – says Sanwo-Olu
- Ododo promises improved welfare for Kogi workers
- Diri sets up minimum wage committee, workers celebrate Abiodun, Uzodimma
- How we’ll fund N70, 000 new minimum wage for Edo workers – Obaseki
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that his administration remains committed to improving the welfare of workers, citing the various relief programmes implemented, including the wage award and the imminent minimum wage review.
He congratulated Nigerian workers on the occasion of Workers’ Day, stressing that workers deserve a fair wage and enhanced welfare, commiserate to their toil.
The President assured Nigerian workers of his dedication to not only improving their welfare, but also enhancing their working conditions and providing the necessary tools for them to succeed.
Tinubu appreciated them for their fidelity to the peace, progress, and development of the nation, evident in their tireless efforts and patriotic zeal to keep the national engine running.
New minimum wage ‘ll take effect from May 1, 2024 – FG
The Federal Government has also said that although the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage has yet to conclude its negotiations, workers will not lose anything as the new minimum wage will take effect on May 1, 2024.
The Minister of State Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, stated this on Wednesday while addressing Nigerian workers at the May Day celebration in Abuja.
She said it was regrettable that the new national minimum wage was not ready before Wednesday but that wide consultation was ongoing to ensure that the document is out together as soon as possible.
NLC rejects 35% pay rise, insists on living wage
The Federal Government on Tuesday night approved a pay rise of between 25 and 35 per cent for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.
The announcement was made on the eve of May Day, or Labour Day, which is celebrated worldwide to recognise and honour the achievements and contributions of the working class.
The announcement came ahead of the submission of the report of the 37-member tripartite committee on national minimum wage, led by Bukar Goni Aji, a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, which was inaugurated in January this year.
A statement signed by the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, Emmanuel Njoku, said the increases took effect from January 1, 2024.
But the Nigeria Labour Congress said the announcement was “a waste of time.”
The NLC Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, said the commission does not have powers to fix national minimum wage.
“What they pretend to have done is a waste of time. It does not amount to anything for us and those in the federal civil service,” Onyeka said.
Njoku’s statement said that the augmentation applies to the six remaining consolidated salary structures, namely the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS), and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
It added that the Federal Government had also approved pension increases ranging from 20% to 28% for pensioners enrolled in the Defined Benefits Scheme within the aforementioned consolidated salary structures, with the same effective date.
Before the latest development, salary increases were implemented for tertiary education and health, among them the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS), Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS), Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Lagos ‘ll implement new minimum wage approved by FG – says Sanwo-Olu
However, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured workers in the state that his administration will implement the new minimum wage that is approved by the Federal Government.
He made the commitment in response to the demands of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress during the Workers’ Day celebration held on Wednesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The Governor, while speaking on the current fuel scarcity, advised Lagos residents against panic buying and storage of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, saying the Federal Government and the major stakeholders in the oil sector are working round the clock to end the fuel scarcity.
He said he has received assurances from the authorities that there is enough fuel at tank stations, and the distribution of the product will be intensified to ease the current fuel scarcity across the country.
The governor promised to look at some of the demands of various unions in the state, saying that his administration will continue to ensure good welfare packages for all the workers in the state.
He praised all the committed, dedicated, resilient, and passionate workers in Lagos State for their contributions across all sectors in building and shaping the State, even in the face of challenges.
Ododo promises improved welfare for Kogi workers
Kogi state governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has promised to improve on the existing welfare and security of lives and property of Kogi workers in order to boost their efficiency and productivity.
Governor Ododo stated this on Wednesday while addressing the state’s civil servants during the 2024 workers’ day, which was celebrated in Lokoja.
According to him, the state government had recognised the importance of welfare, because the workers of the state were enrolled into a health insurance scheme to provide them with quality healthcare at affordable cost.
Governor Ododo, who promised to always dialogue with labour leaders to address the needs of the workers, said he had listened carefully to the various demands of the NLC chairman and promised to attend to the entire requests one after the other.
Diri sets up minimum wage committee
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has set up a committee to work out modalities for implementation of a new minimum wage for workers in the state civil service.
The committee is headed by Secretary to the State Government, Nimibofa Ayawei, while the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, the Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, his Labour, Productivity and Employment counterpart, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Peter Akpe, are members.
The committee has the end of May 2024 to submit its report.
Diri made the pronouncement on Wednesday at the 2024 Workers Day celebration at the Peace Park in Yenagoa.
The governor assured that his administration would implement a new minimum wage once the committee submits its report and he makes a pronouncement on wage increase, saying that the state workers always had emoluments as their federal counterparts.
He stressed that the welfare of workers had always been a top priority of his administration as attested to by the numerous worker-friendly policies he initiated.
Governor Diri equally promised to commence the building of a new befitting secretariat complex for civil servants to accommodate the increasing workforce.
The state’s helmsman, who described workers as the backbone of development in society, attributed the achievements in his first tenure to the support and contributions of civil servants.
He called for a continuous harmonious working relationship with his government in order to bequeath lasting legacies.
The Bayelsa helmsman also approved an annual step increment for civil servants, release of funds for completion of the state secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
Imo workers celebrate Uzodimma over payment of gratuities
Workers in Imo State on Wednesday came out in their numbers to mark this year’s Workers’ Day celebration, with Governor Hope Uzodimma assuring them that workers will always be topmost on the priority list of his administration.
Governor Uzodimma spoke on a day the enthusiastic workers were full of praises for him over the commencement of payment of gratuities to retirees from the Imo State Civil Service.
The pensioners who turned out en masse and participated in the traditional match past stole the show as they danced and praised Governor Uzodimma for dealing with the issue of their 18 years unpaid gratuities.
In his remarks at the occasion at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kalu Square, Owerri, that had in attendance top government officials, security chiefs in Imo State, leaders of the State’s traditional institution and captains of industries, Governor Uzodimma told the workers that the theme of their celebration resonates well with his Shared Prosperity 3R Government that prioritises the welfare of the people, including the workers, going by his policies and programmes.
Governor Uzodimma thanked the workers for the support they have extended to his administration since 2020 when he assumed office leading to industrial harmony in the State and more importantly, for supporting his reelection that made him record a resounding victory in all the 27 local government areas in Imo State.
He promised not to take their support for granted hence his administration will continue to place the welfare and interest of the people above every other consideration.
The Governor listed some of his welfare packages to Imo workers to include: implementation of N30,000 minimum wage, prompt payment of salaries, free transportation to and from work, free health insurance scheme with complete payment of premium, palliative measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, adjustment of the salary to N40,000 for the lower cadre of workers, among others.
Ogun to meet with labour over new minimum wage – Abiodun
In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun said that his administration would do all in its power to come up with a decision on the new minimum wage.
The governor said a meeting with labour leaders in the state would be held with a view to arriving at a decision that is favourable to both the government and the workers.
The governor, who made this known during the year 2024 Worker’s Day celebration and rally also added that his administration has paid a total of N128.3 billion as pensions and gratuities to both local and state government retirees in the state.
“On minimum wage, your ever responsive administration has done a lot of work, which is aimed at arriving at a position that we can sustain in line with our inclusive style of governance.
“We will soon be calling a meeting with the organized labour leaders to finalize the Ogun State government minimum decision,” he said.
Governor Abiodun noted that the state government has paid N2.8 billion as leave bonuses to workers, with the bonus entitlement for the year 2023 and January to March 2024, also paid by his administration.
In addition, he said N13.4 billion outstanding deductions have been paid to workers.
While also noting that his administration has paid over N8 billion as palliatives to state government workers and pensioners, Abiodun added that car and motorcycle refurbishing loans have been increased by 100 percent by his administration.
Governor Abiodun further added that about 10,982 civil servants have benefitted from the loan scheme with about N1.3 billion disbursed so far.
The governor added that his administration has also consistently provided a N10, 000 transport allowances to all civil servants for the past nine months, totaling N8 billion.
How we’ll fund N70, 000 new minimum wage for Edo workers, by Obaseki
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said the N70,000 new minimum wage for workers in the state is within what his administration can afford, noting that the increase became necessary as a result of the current economic realities.
The governor said this while addressing workers during a rally held to mark the May Day celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
He praised the workers for the harmonious relationship with his administration, noting that the peaceful disposition of the organised labour in the State with the government has led to several achievements for the state government.
Obaseki noted, “Two days ago, I announced that we have raised the minimum wage for Edo workers from N40,000 to N70,000, an increase of over 75 percent. This is because we know and feel the pains and hardship which most of you experience daily.
“Fuel subsidy has been removed. The exchange rate has more than doubled and food prices have gone almost off the roof and most of you find it difficult to feed yourself and your family.
“We are an empathetic government; we can’t say we do not know and if we know, we can’t sit down without doing anything about it. This is why we say even if it’s a strain on us, we should do what we ought to do to increase the minimum wage for our workers.”
