Civil Servants To Shut Down States Over Minimum Wage Implementation

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has issued a warning that it will disrupt the operations of states that fail to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000.

During the association’s 5th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Lagos, where he was elected as the new president, Shehu Muhammed made this declaration.

He stated, “For states unwilling to adopt the new minimum wage, let me be clear: it is not an option. We will take action against them.”

Muhammed urged state governments to adopt the new wage to enhance the living standards of their citizens, especially as state revenues have increased due to higher allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

He suggested that states could achieve this by minimizing waste and addressing financial leakages, and he encouraged them to implement a policy that aligns income with inflation rates.

The new ASCSN president emphasized that “the primary focus now is to tackle the new minimum wage issue by forming a committee to address the necessary adjustments for its implementation and to ensure that workers receive a living wage in Nigeria.”

He added that “the complete implementation of the new national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments across both federal and state levels will be the foremost priority for Organized Labour.”

Earlier, ASCSN Secretary General Joshua Apebo pointed out that, following the increase in allocations from FAAC after the removal of the fuel subsidy, state governors should promptly implement the new minimum wage to improve citizens’ living conditions.

He remarked, “We urge state governments to adopt the new national minimum wage to elevate the standard of living for their citizens. This can be accomplished by cutting waste and preventing financial leakages. We also recommend that the government implement a policy to index income to inflation rates, as previously suggested by the Chief Ernest Shonekan committee.”

In a show of solidarity, Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), pledged to support the new executives in safeguarding workers’ interests.