The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has issued a stern warning to state governments that refuse to implement the newly approved ₦70,000 national minimum wage.
The union has threatened to disrupt activities in non-compliant states, stressing that the new wage must be enforced across the country.
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Speaking on the matter, the ASCSN’s new President emphasized the importance of this wage increase, stating, “For states not ready to implement the new minimum wage, let me tell you categorically, it is impossible. We are coming for them.” He called on state governments to improve the standard of living for their citizens, noting that state revenues have increased due to enhanced allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
The ASCSN President further advised that state governments could manage the implementation of the new wage by reducing wastages and blocking financial leakages. He also suggested that states adopt the policy of indexing income to match inflation rates, a recommendation that has been previously made by the Chief Ernest Shonekan committee.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the ASCSN President stated, “The most important priority now is to address the issue of the new minimum wage by constituting a committee to address the consequential adjustments towards implementation and the strategies to ensure workers have a living wage in Nigeria. 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.”
Supporting the call for swift action, Joshua Apebo, the Secretary General of ASCSN, argued that with the increased FAAC allocations following the removal of the fuel subsidy, state governors should have the capacity to implement the new minimum wage. He reiterated the need to reduce government wastages and financial leakages and endorsed the policy of indexing income to inflation rates to safeguard workers’ purchasing power.
In a show of solidarity, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, pledged support for the new ASCSN leadership, urging them to prioritize the interests of the union and its members. “We stand with the new executives to ensure the interests of workers are protected,” he said.
