The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has expressed optimism that the federal government will fulfill its promise to pay arrears of wage awards to workers.
ASCSN National President, Shehu Mohammed, conveyed this assurance during an interview with journalists on Sunday in Lagos.
“Workers will receive their arrears because, during the negotiation for the new minimum wage, the issue of wage awards was raised,” Mr. Mohammed stated. “It was explained, and approval was shown that the wage award would continue until the implementation of the new minimum wage.”
He added that a recent meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honoring the arrears.
On the new minimum wage, Mr. Mohammed confirmed that its implementation had commenced and that arrears would also be paid.
“All federal government workers, whether in the core civil service or in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), will receive arrears starting from the month the president signed the bill into law, which is July. There’s no going back on this,” he said.
The labour leader further noted that although there were initial discussions about ensuring arrears were paid simultaneously with the new wage, such a move could have caused delays in implementation.
In addition, Roselyn Uba-Anara, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors, and Allied Workers, shed light on peculiarity allowances, describing them as discretionary.
“Minimum wage is a law subject to review – now every three years, previously every five years,” Ms. Uba-Anara explained. “However, allowances, especially peculiarity allowances, depend on agreements reached during negotiations at the MDAs level. They are not governed by law.”
The assurances from the labour leaders highlight ongoing efforts to ensure workers receive their entitlements without further delay.
