Federal Government Confirms Date For Minimum Wage Backpay Release

Federal Government Confirms Date For Minimum Wage Backpay Release....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), has announced that the payment of the revised minimum wage will officially commence in July 2024. This was revealed by NSIWC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja……CONTINUE READING 

Nta clarified that the July start date aligns with the period when President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law following its passage by the National Assembly. This update contradicts an earlier statement made by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who had previously stated that the new wage would take effect from May 1, 2024.

As a result of this new decision, only two months of arrears will be paid if the government begins disbursements by the end of October. The announcement also confirmed the approval of the revised Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, along with other salary frameworks for federal workers. Last week, the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants met to finalize the new minimum wage structure and agreed to backdate its implementation to July 29, 2024.

Moreover, the committee, led by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, recommended that the previously discontinued wage award be paid up until July 28, 2024. The government reportedly took the current economic situation into account before making these decisions. However, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the decision to backdate the implementation to July, with NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah, labeling it as “unfair and unacceptable.”

Similarly, the National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Timmy Etim, criticized the decision, referencing Onyejeocha’s earlier promise on May Day that the wage would take effect in May. During the press briefing, Nta addressed these concerns, reiterating that the minimum wage will take effect from July 29, 2024, as this was the date when the President officially signed the bill into law.

Nta stated, “The President has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure effective from July 29, 2024. The commission wishes to clarify that the effective date for the commencement of the National Minimum Wage is July 29, 2024, as that was the day Mr. President assented to the act after it was forwarded by the National Assembly.”

He urged any federal public service institution, whether self-funded or treasury-funded, that has not yet received the relevant circular, to contact the NSIWC for guidance to avoid discrepancies in salary implementation. Nta emphasized, “This is to prevent an uncoordinated implementation that could disrupt existing salary relativities in the federal public service.”

Nta also mentioned that further instructions would be issued regarding the inclusion of pensioners, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and interns in the minimum wage adjustment. Additionally, he outlined several revised salary structures, including the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure, and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II. Other updated frameworks include the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure, Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and the Consolidated Para-Military Salary Structure, among others.

“This follows the enactment of the NSIWC Amendment Act 2024 and the Memorandum of Understanding reached by the committee on consequential adjustments in salaries arising from the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024, between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Trade Union sides of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on September 20,” Nta concluded.