N70,000 Minimum Wage: States Await Template From Wages Commission

• Adamawa commences payment; Ogun workers in the dark

Public servants in many states may have to wait for more time to start receiving the N70,000 minimum wage, investigation has revealed.

This is because the consequential adjustment scale detailing the pay of every worker from the lowest to the highest ranking officer under the new dispensation is yet to be released to the states by the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

Reports from our correspondents across the country showed that while most of the states have expressed commitment to the payment of the new minimum wage, it appears their implementation of the new wage structure is being slowed down by the non-issuance of the document yet by the commission.

However, Adamawa State has started paying the new wage to its workers while those on the pay roll of the local governments in the state are due to start benefitting next month.

Labour leaders in Delta State specifically requested a stay of action by the state government “in the best interest of workers.”

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in the state, Mr. Goodluck Ofobruku, and his Trade Union (TUC) counterpart, Mr. Martins Bolum, said in Asaba yesterday that this was necessary because labour was yet to receive from Abuja the enabling circular on the issue.

Ofobruku assured workers that they had nothing to fear as the funds for the new minimum wage are already in this year’s budget.

He said: “We asked the government to step down the issue of the new minimum wage until we see the template.

“As we speak, we’ve been informed that the salary adjustments for levels 1 to 5 are ready while levels 6 and above will be finalised in about two weeks.

“However, some of us objected to this phased approach because there has never been a time where implementation starts with the junior cadre first.

“If we start with the junior staff, it could lead to discrepancies where a Level 1 Step 1 worker earns ₦70,000 while a Level 5 worker earns ₦100,000, and a Level 8 officer earns less than ₦80,000. This could cause demotivation among workers.”

Kano committee yet to submit report
The committee set up by the Kano State Government to advise it on the process of implementing the new minimum wage is yet to submit its report.

Information Commissioner Baba Dantiye, who is also a member of the committee, said yesterday that the panel still has a lot of ground to cover, citing “so many adjustments to be done based on the data available.”

It was gathered that consequential adjustments have already been done with regard to officers on levels one to six only.

Chairman of the local NLC, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, told The Nation that labour was expecting from the NSIWC the consequential adjustment table which would guide it in its negotiations with the state government.

Negotiations also on hold in Kaduna – NLC Chair

A similar situation obtains in neighbouring Kaduna State where the NLC Chairman, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, said there is not yet in place a basis for negotiation between the state government and the workers.

He said: “The table we have currently is based on the N30,000 minimum wage, and it is the responsibility of the National Salary Income and Wages Commission to determine the new table for the salary structures. It is after the release of that table that states can start negotiating.

“All other states that said they are negotiating, we don’t know on what basis they are negotiating. At the end of the day, they might negotiate something below what the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission will come up with.

“That is why we were advised at our National Executive Council meeting that before commencing negotiations with the state governments, NLC is organising a workshop to guide state chairmen on how to go about negotiating the consequential adjustment.

“That is why you will see that a lot of states have not started negotiation.

“In Kaduna, we have not even approached the state government because we know there is a document we must have at hand in order not to shortchange our members.”

We’re waiting in Bayelsa — Barnabas

Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the NLC, Mr. Simon Barnabas, attributed the delay in the take-off of the new minimum wage in the state to the non-issuance of the relevant circular.

He said: “As it is now, we are yet to receive the circular. So, things are just the way they are now. Because of that, implementation has not begun.

“For the states that have started the implementation, I say it loud and clear that Bayelsa State civil servants are far ahead of them.

“The N30,000 minimum wage that Bayelsa State workers have enjoyed over the years, some states have not even implemented it. Some states that have implemented it only did some percentage of it.

“So, when this opportunity came that there is a salary review, those states that never paid N30,000 quickly started implementing it, having heard that the federal government and labour had agreed on N70,000, to make it earlier than the release of circulars to cover their yesterday’s deficiency and also cover their bid for second term.

“Let me make it loud and clear that Bayelsa is waiting for circulars to be released by the federal government. The review requires a lot of scrutiny with substantial adjustments embedded in it.”

Ogun workers apprehensive; no agreement yet with state govt – Labour

Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ogun State, Akeem Lasisi, said labour would commence engagement with the government as soon as it received the appropriate circular from the wages commission.

According to him, organised labour in the state already has in place a technical committee to ensure that the “state government does not outwit” the workers on the new minimum wage.

Lasisi said: “It is no longer news that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law the new national minimum wage on July 29, 2024. The news now is the implementation that is yet to commence in all states apart from Edo and Lagos. Many states have, however, been making political commitments.

“Amidst the reports on social media that some states have indicated their readiness to commence the implementation of the new minimum wage, workers are apprehensive and Labour leaders are bombarded with questions every minute on what is happening in Ogun State since the government has not made a public statement to that effect.

“The Organised Labour in Ogun State is not docile. We are set for engagement with the government on the new national minimum wage.

“We are only waiting for the release of the circular on the new Public Service Salary Structure from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for us to enter into a negotiation with the government on the consequential adjustment of the new wage, across the Grade Levels, from 01 to 17, because the N70,000 for the lowest-paid civil servant is not negotiable.

“Already, on the part of Organized Labour, we have set up a technical committee to ensure we are not outwitted by the government. This technical committee is to prepare the ground for our engagement with the government.

“We are also having regular consultations with leaders of thought in the labour movement across the unions in preparation for the engagement.

“We have not entered into any agreement with the state government. As a result, we cannot say for now when government is commencing the implementation with financial implications.

“What is sure is that the effective date of implementation is May 1, 2024, because the last minimum wage seized to function in April

“We will continue to pressurise the government so that the implementation with financial benefits begins immediately the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission releases the new salary structure.”

Imo, Anambra, Kwara, Rivers too
It is the same story in Imo, Anambra, Kwara and Rivers states.

Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Kwara State, Alhaji Olayinka Onikijipa, in a short WhatsApp message yesterday, said:”Let us wait for federal government template first.

The state government had earlier said it was committed to improving the well-being of its workforce and creating an atmosphere for them to live a decent life after retirement.

Chairman of TUC in Imo State, Comrade Uchenna Ibe Great, said:”We are waiting for the implementation of the Federal Government’s N70,000 minimum wage to begin our negotiation with the state government. The federal government needs to prepare a salary table for the states to follow.

“There is what is called consequential adjustments of what to add to other grade levels going up. So, nobody knows the adjustment until the federal government rolls out a salary table. If you don’t have a template, what are you going to negotiate?”

“In Imo State, we have not started negotiations because we are waiting for the federal government template. Anybody setting up a committee must wait for the federal government template.”

Labour leaders in Anambra State told The Nation that the implementation committee on the issue set up by Governor Chukwuma Soludo has not even met because it is yet to receive the relevant document from Abuja.

“A lot of things must be put in place. We’re still waiting,” one of the labour leaders said.

“But one thing is clear: the minimum wage can’t take off this month in Anambra State,” he added.

Plateau govt: We’ll make implementation public

Plateau State Information Commissioner Musa Ashoms said the state government would make the implementation of the new minimum wage public once the modalities are ready.

“It will be made public at the appropriate time. We will not wait for a law before we enter into negotiation with the people, and their welfare is a priority on our list,” he told The Nation.

“Whatever agreement we reach with labour, we will make it public and the public will know at the appropriate time.”

Adeleke sets up implementation committee
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has set up a committee on the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

His media aide, Olawale Rasheed, said: “We are committed to supporting our workers as a labor-friendly government.

“Our labour leaders are aware of and appreciate our passion for improving the lives of workers and pensioners.”

Ondo, Labour still in talks

Information and Orientation Commissioner Wale Akinlosotu said talks between labour and the state government were in progress.

Akinlosotu said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has agreed to pay the N70,000 minimum wage.

He stated that payment would commence once an agreement is reached reached with labour.

Last month, a meeting of the Ondo Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) presided over by Comrade Olapade Ademola Adeniji constituted a nine-man Technical Committee on Minimum Wage.

Secretary of the JNC, Comrade Esther Foluke Akinleye, said the panel was charged with the responsibility of reviewing, analyzing and working out different salary tables after comparison with other states.

“This committee, which comprises representatives from various sectors, is to ensure that every worker’s perspective is taken into consideration.

“It named Comrade Esther Foluke Akinleye as Chairman and Comrade Adewale Sanusi as Secretary.

Fubara promises to pay N70,000 minimum wage

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has promised to pay the N70,000 minimum wage to civil servants in the state.

The governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the state Government, Tammy Danagogo, said Rivers would be among the first states to adopt the federal government-approved new minimum wage.

He said: “As soon as the implementation modalities for the new minimum wage are released by the Federal Government, I re-assure you that Rivers State will be one of the first states in the country to implement it.

“We recognise that the civil service is the institutional memory of government. No government can stand without its support.”

Source:- Thenationonlineng