The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated a 16-member committee in Abuja to address salary adjustments following the enactment of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2024. The committee’s mandate is to discuss consequential adjustments in salaries as a result of the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage.
During the inauguration, the Head of Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, emphasized the necessity of the committee’s work in maintaining a fair and equitable salary structure for federal civil servants. She highlighted that the new minimum wage represents a significant 133.33% increase from the previous ₦30,000, necessitating adjustments for other categories of workers to reflect this change.
“With the introduction of the new minimum wage, it is essential to consider the ripple effects on other staff categories and ensure appropriate salary adjustments,” Walson-Jack said.
The committee consists of 16 members—eight representing the federal government and eight from the trade unions. Walson-Jack, who also chairs the committee, is joined by representatives from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and other key government bodies.
The trade union representatives include Benjamin Anthony, National Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) and Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), alongside other leaders from the labour movement.
Walson-Jack outlined the committee’s key terms of reference, which include negotiating and agreeing on salary adjustments in line with the National Minimum Wage Act, 2024. Additionally, the committee is tasked with developing a template for the seamless implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage across the federal workforce.
“The importance of this task cannot be overstated, as it will help preserve industrial peace and harmony. I trust that we will approach this with the best interests of both the public service and the nation in mind,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the labour side, Benjamin Anthony expressed appreciation to the government for its commitment to addressing the consequential salary adjustments. He described the inauguration of the committee as a critical step towards concluding discussions on the new minimum wage.
“We appreciate the government’s decision to establish this committee, which will help us ensure fair salary adjustments based on the new wage. This initiative is a stepping stone towards more constructive dialogue between labour and the government for the benefit of Nigerian workers,” Anthony remarked.
The committee is expected to begin its deliberations immediately, with the goal of reaching an agreement that satisfies both the government and the workforce.
