N70,000 Minimum Wage: Civil Servants Threaten to Shut Down Defaulting States
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has issued a stern warning to state governments that fail to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000, threatening to paralyze their activities.
The warning was delivered by the newly elected ASCSN President, Shehu Muhammed, during the association’s 5th Quadrennial Delegates Conference held in Lagos.
Muhammed, who emerged as the new leader during the event, emphasized the association’s resolve to ensure the nationwide implementation of the new minimum wage.
“For states not ready to implement the new minimum wage, let me tell you categorically, it is impossible. We are coming for them,” Muhammed stated unequivocally.
He called on state governments to act swiftly in implementing the wage increase, highlighting that the recent enhancements in allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) should be more than sufficient to support the new wage structure.
Muhammed further suggested that state governments could fund this wage adjustment by reducing waste and plugging financial leakages.
“States should embrace the policy of indexing income to correspond with the rate of inflation,” he advised, adding that it was crucial for ensuring workers receive a living wage in the face of rising inflation.
Muhammed outlined that the immediate priority of the ASCSN under his leadership would be to address the new minimum wage issue by forming a committee dedicated to discussing consequential adjustments and implementation strategies.
“The full implementation of the new national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments at both the federal and the 36 states of the federation will be the top priority of Organised Labour,” he asserted.
Echoing this sentiment, the ASCSN’s Secretary General, Joshua Apebo, emphasized that the removal of fuel subsidies has led to increased FAAC allocations, making it feasible for state governments to implement the new wage.
Apebo urged governors to act promptly to uplift the living standards of their citizens.
“We request that state governments implement the new national minimum wage to enhance the standard of living for their citizens. This can be achieved by reducing wastages and blocking leakages of government funds,” Apebo stated.
In a show of solidarity, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, pledged the TUC’s full support to the new ASCSN leadership. He urged the newly elected officials to prioritize the interests of the union and the workers who elected them.
The ASCSN’s firm stance sets the stage for a potential nationwide industrial action if state governments fail to comply with the new wage directive, a move that could disrupt public services across the country
