Nigerian workers have confirmed receiving the Federal Government’s newly approved minimum wage of N70,000.

This development was made public by Benson Upah, spokesperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Tommy Etim, Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in separate statements released on Thursday.

The announcement follows recent reports indicating that the Federal Government has begun the disbursement of the revised wage.

Upah expressed his satisfaction with the prompt implementation and urged other organizations across the country to adopt a similar approach.

He highlighted the importance of this step in ensuring that workers are adequately compensated for their contributions, stating, “We encourage other entities to follow this commendable example set by the Federal Government.”

Echoing this sentiment, TUC’s Etim pointed out that a template for the consequential adjustments had already been provided by the Federal Government, leaving no excuse for any delay in the payment process.

He called on all parties to swiftly implement the new minimum wage structure, emphasizing that the time has come for all stakeholders to align with the new policy and begin payments without further delay.

Reports from various federal workers corroborate these statements.

A civil servant from the Office of the Head of Civil Service, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed receiving the new minimum wage payment for September 2024.

“I received an alert around 2 pm on Thursday. I am hopeful that the arrears will also be paid soon,” he revealed.

Other federal employees have also reported receiving an additional N40,000 as part of the consequential adjustment to their previous salaries, reflecting the upward revision of the wage structure.

This development affects over 1.2 million workers under the Federal Government’s payroll, signaling a significant move towards improving the standard of living for public sector employees.

On Tuesday, the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, confirmed that the government had approved the review of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) in alignment with the Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024.

This adjustment came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the N70,000 minimum wage on July 18, 2024.

The implementation of this new minimum wage represents a 100 percent increase from the previous N30,000 minimum wage established under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

While this raise is a welcome development for many Nigerian workers, it coincides with rising costs of living, as the country faces severe economic challenges.

Recent data indicates that the headline and food inflation rates stood at 32.15 percent and 37.52 percent, respectively, as of August 2024.

The wage increase is a significant milestone in addressing the economic difficulties faced by many Nigerian workers, but it also underscores the broader economic challenges that need to be tackled.

As prices of goods and services continue to soar, the real impact of the wage hike on the purchasing power of the average worker remains a subject of concern.

Nonetheless, the swift implementation of the new wage policy by the Federal Government sets a precedent for other sectors to follow and provides a glimmer of hope for improved welfare for Nigerian workers.