New Minimum Wage: PMB orders immidiate payment of workers

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate implementation of the National Minimum Wage to all federal civil servants earning less than N30,000 monthly. The Executive Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, (NSIWC), Dr. Richard Onwuka Egbule, disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja.

He said based on the approval from the president, the implementation takes effect from April 18, 2019.

Dr. Egbule said the civil servants affected are only those who earn less than N30,000 monthly, adding that with the implementation of the minimum wage, no FG staff will earn less than N30,000 per month.

According to him, the salaries structures affected include the consolidated public service salary structure (CONPSS); consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS); consolidated research and allied institutions salary structure (CONRAISS); consolidated tertiary institutions salary structure (CONTISS II) and consolidated tertiary educational institutions salary structure (CONTEDNESS).

Dr. Egbule however noted that “the negotiations between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on the consequential adjustments arising from the new national minimum wage for officers who earned salaries above N30,000 per month before 18th April, 2019 in the federal civil service will continue.”

He said the “outcome of such negotiations will be implemented with the effect from the date an agreement is reached.” He also said all arrears arising from the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage will be worked out by all concerned agencies in partnership with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. He also said those who earn N30,000 and above now will still get their salaries adjusted after the negotiations with the unions.

“The law says you cannot say anyone less than N30,000. So to comply with law, all those earning less than N30,000 as at 18th April 2019 must have their salaries adjusted” he said. He also said money for the implementation has been captured in 2019 budget thus implementation will be seamless.