The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) clarified that the recent announcement by the federal government regarding a 25% to 35% increase in workers’ salaries does not pertain to the minimum wage. Mr. Tommy Okon, the president of the association and also the Vice President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), made this clarification while addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

Okon explained that the approval for the salary increase aims to address salary discrepancies within certain ministries, departments, and agencies, rather than being a revision of the minimum wage. He emphasized that various sectors have benefited from these increases, with the exception being the core Federal Civil Service. He stressed the importance of informing the public accurately, as some may have misunderstood the government’s actions as unilaterally increasing the minimum wage, which is not the case.

According to Okon, the ongoing process of adjusting the minimum wage remains separate from these recent salary adjustments. He highlighted the necessity of this clarification for workers and the general public, underlining that the salary increase was intended to bridge wage gaps within the civil service.

The Federal Government announced on Tuesday an increase ranging from 25% to 35% in the salaries of civil servants across six consolidated salary structures. These structures include the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS), and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).

Delta State workers expressed their discontent towards Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Wednesday for his failure to address the issue of minimum wage during a public event. Despite their anticipation for an announcement regarding the new minimum wage, the workers became frustrated when the governor concluded his speech without mentioning it. In response to the workers’ dissatisfaction, they interrupted the governor with chants demanding payment of the minimum wage, to which Oborevwori firmly stated that they couldn’t coerce him into compliance.

The May Day celebration in 2024, themed “People First,” turned into a lively event in Delta State, featuring a parade by various affiliated unions. However, the governor’s address in Asaba was disrupted by the workers’ noise, reflecting their disappointment over his silence on the minimum wage issue. According to a union leader, previous attempts to discuss the matter with the governor had been unsuccessful.

Governor Oborevwori announced plans to establish a committee to address workers’ demands for salary increases due to the prevailing economic hardship. He praised the workers for their support and emphasized his administration’s commitment to their welfare. He acknowledged the inadvertent omission of some workers from promotion arrears payments and promised to address the issue.

Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), emphasized the importance of politicians keeping their promises, stressing that workers keep track of such commitments.

On Tuesday, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to restore electricity supply to communities within the state. The House stated that the ultimatum aims to ensure residents have consistent power supply, which is essential for promoting business activities.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the prolonged power outage despite consumers paying high electricity bills, the Speaker warned that failure to restore power would compel the House to take decisive action. He emphasized that if AEDC fails to comply, they would be asked to leave, and competent replacements would be sought to provide reliable electricity services.

This resolution was reached after Yakubu Suleiman Umar, the General Manager of the Nasarawa Electricity Power Agency (NAePA), and Adeyemi Jonathan Kehinde, the Chief Business Officer of AEDC, appeared before the House during a plenary session chaired by the Speaker, Jatau.

Previously, the House had invited the heads of AEDC and NAePA to address issues concerning power outages and exorbitant electricity bills in the state. The Speaker highlighted the constitutional authority of the House to question individuals on public matters and expressed concern over the suffering of residents due to the lack of electricity.

During the session, Kehinde acknowledged the company’s shortcomings in replacing damaged transformers and cables for communities across the state. He revealed that out of 28,000 customers in the state, only 8,000 have been metered. He requested some time to improve the situation, emphasizing his recent appointment and commitment to enhancing power supply.

Umar, the General Manager of NAePA, affirmed the agency’s dedication to ensuring effective power supply to communities in the state, underscoring their efforts to fulfill their mandate.