The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that the implementation of the new minimum wage will officially begin on July 29, 2024. This statement was made by Ekpo Nta, the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), during a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The NSIWC explained that the July date was significant as it marks when President approved the new wage bill after it had passed through the National Assembly.
This clarification comes after confusion arose from an earlier statement by Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour, who had indicated that the new minimum wage would start on May 1, 2024.
The shift in the effective date means that if payments begin by the end of October, civil servants will only receive back pay for two months.
During the meeting, it was also announced that the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, along with other related salary frameworks, has been approved.
Last week, the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries convened and agreed to establish July 29, 2024, as the effective date for the new minimum wage.
Additionally, the committee recommended that any wage awards previously discontinued by the government should be reinstated and paid up until July 28, 2024.
Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, noted that the government considered the current economic conditions before making these decisions.
However, the announcement has met with criticism from labor representatives. Benson Upah, the Head of Information for the Nigerian Labour Congress, expressed his discontent with the government’s decision, stating, “The backdating to July is not fair. It is not acceptable.”
Similarly, Timmy Etim, the National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, echoed these sentiments, arguing that since the Minister had communicated that the new wage would take effect in May, changing it now is unfair to workers.
In response to the backlash, Ekpo Nta reiterated the commission’s position, saying, “The President has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure with effect from July 29, 2024.”
He also encouraged any federal public service bodies that have not received directives from the NSIWC to reach out for guidance to ensure a coordinated implementation of the new wage.
Nta further stated that additional details on how the new minimum wage will affect pensioners, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and interns would be released soon.
He highlighted several revised salary structures that are part of this implementation, including those for research institutions, universities, polytechnics, medical staff, and various branches of the military and law enforcement.
“This is consequent to 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,” Nta concluded.
