Just In : F.G begins implementation of Pay Raise for Workers in April
Barring any last-minute change of plans, the Federal Government will begin payment of the planned increase in civil servants’ pay by the end of this month (April).
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to give his final assent for disbursement any moment from now.
If the proposal sails through, it means the increase will be coming about two months to the June date proposed for the removal of petrol subsidy.
Officials of the Federal Government told journalists exclusively that the fresh pay increase, tagged consequential allowance, would lead to a 40 per cent rise in the current pay of government workers.
Speaking on the matter, Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, revealed that the Federal Government might begin payment of the 40 per cent pay rise by the end of April this year, adding that the three months arrears of January, February and March would be paid at a later date.
Oshundun, however, said she could not confirm if the proposal by the government committee saddled with the task had been finally approved by the President.
He said, “Consequential allowance Salaries will be increased by 40 per cent for civil servants from level 1 to level 17.
What we receive now is called consolidated public service salary structure, it is the combination of basic and all allowances. So, the increase will be 40 per cent of what a public servant is earning now.
“They will start paying from the end of this month (April) and the arrears of January, February and March will be paid later. The salary increase is effective from January 2023. That is the proposal submitted by the committee set up to look into salary adjustment for civil servants, but am not sure if the President has signed it yet.”
Our heritage reporter had reported that last month, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige disclosed that the Federal Government had approved a pay raise for civil servants in the country.
He added that the pay raise had been included in the 2023 budget, noting that it would take effect from January 1, 2023.
Ngige described it as a peculiar allowance for civil servants in view of the current economic reality and it is meant to help government workers to cushion the effects of rising inflation, rising cost of living, hikes in transportation fare, housing and electricity tariffs.
He said, “I once said that the Federal Government is looking at giving people in the public service a pay raise to take care of the increase cost of living and that is correct.
“The presidential Committee on salaries has done something for the civic servants and those who are on what we call consolidated public servants scales and some corporations and some MBA that are on that scale.
“We have handled it. We made our recommendations and put the percentage and it has been approved.
“We said it should take effect from January 1.
“We have a provision for it in the 2023 budget so, we are not afraid of telling, Mr President, we need you to look at this and approve it. The money is appropriated.
“Whenever the approval is gotten, the civil servants or those on CONPSS will get that pay raise for them to cushion the effect of inflation, increase in importation, housing, food, electricity and it takes effect from January 1, 2023.
“Again, some corporation, agencies of government, taking a cue from this, we have approved for them,different percentage of pay raise depending on the particular peculiarities of the organisations.”
