An Official of the Federal Government on Tuesday said that the federal government has approved 25% and 35% salary increments for civil servants on the six Consolidated Salary Structures. However, this salary increment is separate from the one being discussed in the ongoing negotiation between the government and labour unions. This increment was announced on Tuesday in Abuja by Emmanuel Njoku, who is the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
In his statement, he said that the federal government has approved an increase between 25% and 35% in salary increase for Civil Servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures. He stated that they include the following, Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), and Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS). He went on to say that others include: Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS), and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS). He noted that the increase will be effective from January 1.
The federal government according to Mr. Njoku has also approved an increment in pension of between 20% and 28% for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme. According to him, the increment was in respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures and that it would be effective from January 1. The move according to him was in line with the provisions of Section 173(3) of the Nigerian Constitution. It was also said by the Official that those in the tertiary education and health sectors had already received their increment. This increment according to him involves Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for universities.
Mr. Njoku said that the once for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education involves the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS). He continued by saying that the Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).” There are talks ongoing between the government and labour unions (NLC and TUC) for an increase in the salaries of government workers.
Newsmen reports that the two labour unions are seeking an increment in the minimum wage of workers from N30,000 to N615,000 from the government following the economic impact of the removal of petrol subsidies. Festus Osifo, who is the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), last Friday said the new minimum wage may not be announced soon. He said that the negotiation is still ongoing by the Tripartite Committee.
