The Nigerian government has announced salary increases for public servants, effective from January 1, 2024, just on the eve of May Day, also known as Labour Day, celebrated worldwide to honor the contributions of the working class. The announcement, made by the Head of Press at the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Emmanuel Njoku, came ahead of the submission of the report of the 37-member tripartite committee on the national minimum wage.
According to Njoku’s statement, the salary increment applies to six consolidated salary structures, including CONPSS, CONRAISS, CONPOSS, CONPASS, CONICCS, and CONAFSS. Additionally, the federal government has approved pension increases ranging from 20% to 28% for pensioners enrolled in the Defined Benefits Scheme within these salary structures.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) dismissed the announcement, labeling it as “a waste of time.” Chris Onyeka, the NLC Assistant General Secretary, emphasized that the commission does not have the authority to fix the national minimum wage. Despite prodding by reporters, senior officials of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) could not be reached for comments.
Before this latest development, salary increases had been implemented for tertiary education and health sectors, including structures like CONUASS, CONTISS, CONPCASS, CONTEDISS, CONMESS, and CONHESS.
Responding to inquiries about the timing of the announcement, Njoku defended it, stating that workers should benefit from government policies regardless of the timing. He also confirmed that the government would pay the arrears of the backlogs from January. Njoku clarified that the increment was separate from the multi-stakeholder committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
However, some senior government functionaries and security officials, speaking anonymously, revealed that the announcement aimed to prevent potential embarrassment. They mentioned alleged plans by organized labor to stage protests during the May Day event. Attempts to engage union leaders in dialogue reportedly failed, as they were either in hiding or avoided contact with government officials and security agencies. Meetings between organized labor and government representatives earlier ended without tangible outcomes.