The implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government has led to growing unrest among federal public workers, particularly among those who have not received the wage increase. Many employees from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including federal university staff, have expressed frustration over what they perceive as government insensitivity amidst rising hardship and hunger.
Reports indicate that a significant number of workers are yet to see any adjustment to their salaries, which they argue reflects a lack of responsiveness from the government, especially given the recent removal of fuel subsidies that has exacerbated their financial struggles.
Conflicting Information from Government Sources
The situation is further complicated by conflicting reports from the Accountant-General’s Office and the Budget Office. While the Accountant-General’s office claimed that the new minimum wage was included in the September salaries, the Budget Office stated that only N40,000 was disbursed to all federal workers. Many employees, however, deny receiving any increase at all.
President Bola Tinubu signed the N70,000 minimum wage into law on July 18, 2024, following extensive negotiations involving the government, the Organized Private Sector, and labor unions such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Voices of Frustration
An anonymous staff member from an MDA expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, stating, “We are fed up with the whole system. We do not know what the government wants us to do. It is bad enough that the government removed fuel subsidies and inflicted unbearable suffering and hardship on workers and other Nigerians. It is even worse that the minimum wage has not been implemented months after being signed into law.”
This employee criticized the apparent selective payment, noting, “We even heard that some few workers in the core civil service have seen some amount added to their salaries. What sort of arrangement is that? Are we not in the same country and experiencing the same hardship?”
They described the situation as “pure discrimination and salary slavery designed to keep some of us in perpetual bondage.” Many workers report resorting to sleeping in their offices or enduring long commutes to work due to financial constraints.
The unfolding situation underscores a broader discontent among federal workers regarding wage implementation and the overall economic environment in the country