The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has issued a stern warning to states that fail to implement the new ₦70,000 national minimum wage, threatening to halt activities in those states.
ASCSN President Shehu Muhammed made this declaration at the association’s 5th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Lagos, where he was elected as the new president. Muhammed emphasized that non-compliance with the minimum wage directive would not be tolerated, stating, “For states not ready to implement the new minimum wage, it is impossible. We are coming for them.”
He called on state governments to implement the new wage to improve the living standards of their citizens, noting that increased allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) have bolstered state incomes.
Muhammed suggested that states could achieve this by cutting wasteful spending and plugging financial leakages. He also recommended that state governments index wages to inflation to ensure that workers’ incomes keep pace with the rising cost of living.
“The most important priority now is to address the issue of the new minimum wage by constituting a committee to handle the consequential adjustments for implementation and strategies to ensure workers receive a living wage in Nigeria,” Muhammed stated. He affirmed that full implementation of the new national minimum wage, along with its adjustments, would be the top priority for Organized Labour at both federal and state levels.
Secretary General of ASCSN, Joshua Apebo, echoed these sentiments, arguing that the increase in FAAC allocations since the removal of fuel subsidies should prompt state governors to implement the new wage without delay.
“We request that state governments implement the new national minimum wage to enhance the standard of living for their citizens,” Apebo said. “This can be achieved by reducing waste and preventing the leakage of government funds. We also advise the government to adopt the policy of indexing income to match inflation rates, as recommended years ago by the Chief Ernest Shonekan committee.”
In a show of solidarity, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, pledged support for the new ASCSN leadership, urging them to prioritize the interests of workers and the union members who elected them.
