Abuja, Nigeria – The National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has completed the computation of the new minimum wage for junior federal workers. The adjustment for senior cadre workers is expected to be finalized within the next two to three weeks.
A source from the Presidency disclosed this to The Nation yesterday, adding that both sets of data will be forwarded to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) for further processing and implementation.
The source explained that the NSIWC is awaiting the conclusion of ongoing negotiations between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the federal government. These discussions are crucial to ensure that workers’ salaries are proportionately aligned with the new minimum wage through a process known as consequential adjustment.
Junior workers, classified as those on grade levels one to five, will see their monthly earnings increase from N30,000 to N70,000. Senior staff, those on grade levels six and above, will have their wage adjustments determined after the ongoing negotiations.
“The details for levels one to five have been computed and will be forwarded to the Accountant General’s office very soon,” the Presidency source stated.
The consequential adjustment will determine the new salary scales for workers above grade level five, ensuring that their remuneration is proportionately aligned with the new minimum wage. The deliberations between labour leaders and the government are still ongoing, as they work to agree on the percentage increases for different categories of workers.
An official at the OAGF confirmed that they are prepared to receive the final wage details from the NSIWC. The data are crucial for calculating the Federal Government’s total wage bill under the new wage structure. “We are awaiting the details from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission to determine the total wage bill under the new minimum wage,” the official said, emphasizing the importance of precise calculations.
Before the new N70,000 minimum wage, the Federal Government’s monthly wage bill was approximately N265 billion, covering salaries for the armed forces, civil servants, and other federal employees. The new wage adjustments are expected to significantly increase this figure.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been proactive in addressing wage-related concerns, particularly given the rising cost of living and economic challenges facing workers. Following a critical meeting with NLC and TUC leadership on July 15, President Tinubu approved the increase in the national minimum wage, later codified through the passage of a new minimum wage bill by the National Assembly. The legislation mandates a review of the national minimum wage every three years, ensuring that wage adjustments keep pace with inflation and economic realities.