The Nigerian government, Tuesday, said it is planning to increase the salaries of civil servants in the country.
The Nigerian Civil Service consists of employees in Nigerian government agencies other than the military and police. Most employees are career civil servants in Nigerian ministries, progressing based on qualifications and seniority.
After a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, confirmed this to reporters in Abuja.
“As we enter the new year government will make some pronouncements in that direction,” the minister said on the workable timeframe for the implementation of salaries under review.
“The Presidential Committee on salaries is working hand-in-hand with the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission. The commission is mandated by the Act establishing them to fix salaries, wages, and emoluments in not only the public service.
“If you want their assistance and you are in the private sector, they will also assist you. They have what is called the template for remuneration, for compensation. So if you work, you get compensated, if you don’t work, you will not be compensated.
“So they have the matrix to do the evaluation, so they are working with the Presidential Committee on Salaries Chaired by the finance ministry and I’m the co-chair to look at the demands of the workers. Outside this, I said discussions on that evaluation are going.”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, briefs reporters after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on December 27, 2022.
The Minister had intimated in the past that the present administration will examine the pay of civil officials upwards to counteract the impact of inflation.
Ngige claims that he visited the White House to inform Buhari on the work being done by his ministry as the year draws to a close.
Ngige clarified that the private sector handled its business better, possibly because its management and finances are subject to audit.
“They could do collective bargaining very easily with their workers. The
banking sector, food, beverages and finance, insurance, everywhere.
“So, there is calm there. We didn’t have the desired calmness on the government’s side because of the government’s finances.
“However, I’ve briefed him, we are doing some review within the Presidential Committee on Salaries, and discussions are ongoing. The doctors are discussing with the ministry of health, and insurance people in the public sector discussing and there is a general calmness.
“Hopefully, within available resources, the government can do something in the coming year,” he added.
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