The Federal Government has announced that the new minimum wage for civil servants will be backdated to take effect from July 29, 2024. This decision was agreed upon by the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries during its recent meeting.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) issued at the end of the committee’s session, seen by our correspondent in Abuja, confirmed the decision. The committee also recommended that the wage award, which had been suspended by the Federal Government, should continue until July 28, 2024.
The committee, chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, emphasized that the government considered the country’s economic conditions before making the decision to backdate the payments.
The MoU stated, “The committee held four meetings and considered presentations from both the Federal Government and Trade Unions. It also took into account the economic situation and the ability of the Federal Government to sustain any salary adjustments resulting from the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024.”
Key recommendations from the MoU include:
- The National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC) will generate appropriate salary templates for various consolidated salary structures.
- The new wage implementation will officially commence from July 29, 2024.
- The wage award issued in October 2023 will continue until July 27, 2024.
- The Federal Government should explore measures such as tax waivers and incentives to mitigate the economic effects of rising fuel prices on workers.
The committee, consisting of 16 members, was tasked with negotiating consequential salary adjustments and developing a template for implementing the new ₦70,000 minimum wage, up from ₦30,000.
