Politics
Federal Government Explains July 29 Backpay Process For Minimum Wage

Federal Government Explains July 29 Backpay Process For Minimum Wage....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), has announced that payments for the new minimum wage will begin from July 2024. NSIWC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday…….CONTINUE READING
Nta explained that this decision was based on the date when the President signed the bill into law following its passage by the National Assembly. This announcement contradicts an earlier statement made by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who had indicated that the new minimum wage would be effective from May 1, 2024.
As a result of this change, the government will only owe two months of back pay if the payments start by the end of October 2024.
Additionally, the government has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, along with other salary structures. Last week, the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants, led by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, agreed to set July 29, 2024, as the effective date for implementing the new minimum wage. The committee also recommended that the previously discontinued wage award should be paid up to July 28, 2024.
However, the decision to backdate the wage increase to July has sparked criticism. In an interview with *Saturday PUNCH*, Benson Upah, Head of Information for the Nigerian Labour Congress, called the government’s decision unfair and unacceptable. Similarly, Timmy Etim, National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, expressed disappointment, arguing that the government should honor the May 1st date as originally promised by Minister Onyejeocha.
During the press briefing, Nta provided further clarification, stating, “The President has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure with effect from July 29, 2024. The commission wishes to clarify that the effective date for the commencement of the National Minimum Wage is the 29th of July, 2024, as that was the day Mr. President assented to the act after the bill was forwarded to him by the National Assembly.”
Nta also urged any federal public service entities, whether self-funded or treasury-funded, that had not yet received a circular from NSIWC to contact the commission for guidance to avoid uncoordinated implementation that could disrupt existing salary structures.
He further mentioned that NSIWC would issue additional instructions on how pensioners, NYSC members, and interns would benefit from the new minimum wage. Nta also outlined other revised salary templates, including those for research institutions, universities, polytechnics, health workers, paramilitary organizations, and the armed forces.
The revisions come as a result of the enactment of the NSIWC Amendment Act 2024 and the Memorandum of Understanding reached on September 20, 2024, between the Federal Government and the Trade Union sides of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.