News
Nigerian Workers Receive N70,000 New Minimum Wage
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.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
“Fighting for Nigerians Is Tiring” — VeryDarkMan Recalls Burna Boy’s Words
Enzo Fernández Moves Closer to Manchester City Transfer
