Senate Pushes for N35,000 Minimum Wage for Civil Servants

The Senate recommends that the government keep paying civil servants N35,0000 wage award.

Following the ongoing negotiations on minimum wage, the Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to continue paying N35,000 salary awards to workers.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and a few ministers convened a four-hour closed-door meeting regarding the union's planned industrial action. Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, made this announcement.

In addition, Akpabio made a plea to the union, imploring them to abandon the planned strike action in the interest of the welfare of Nigerians and the country at large.

“We have been making appeals and asked the NLC and TUC to shelve the proposed strike and return to the negotiating table to resolve the issue.

“I appeal that the strike be suspended for negotiations to continue in the interest of Nigerians and the nation.”

The government's stance on the salary award, according to Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris, is that it should keep making the payment until the minimum wage discussions are over.

“The position of Government is that the Federal Government will continue to pay its workers the wage award of N35,000 that was started in Oct 2023 until a new wage regime is instituted.”

He expressed hope that the labour union will call off the planned strike in light of the lengthy talks with the delegation from the Federal Government, organized labour, and the leadership of the National Assembly.

Idris emphasized that Nigeria cannot afford a strike at this time, pointing out the country's current economic struggles. He emphasized that a strike is not the most practical course of action at this moment and emphasized the value of teamwork in ensuring the development of the country.

“And we have pleaded with labour to see reasons with the Federal Government and everybody while the strike cannot continue in the interest of everybody.”

According to him, Nigeria was unable to absorb the extra N9.5 trillion in debt that would result from workers' demands for a minimum salary of N494,000.

Festus Osifo, the TUC President, pointed out that both sides understood the problems at hand. He emphasized that there were procedures involved in halting an industrial action and clarified that the union's leadership lacked the power to unilaterally call off the strike.

“The power to call off strikes lies with our organs, who would sit to decide.”

George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was present at the meeting.

The Ministers of Finance, Atiku Bagudu, Science and Technology, Mohammed Idris, Information and National Orientation, Budget and National Planning, and Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and Wale Edun, were also present.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, the Federation's Head of Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, and the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, were also present.