Civil servants lament lopsided, reduced January salaries

Many federal civil servants are lamenting over the reduction in their January salaries amid lopsided implementation of the new minimum wage.

The workers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, complained that their January salaries did not reflect the minimum wage.

A civil servant, Mr Paul Okor, said that it was disheartening that the new minimum wage had not resulted in a considerable increase in the salaries of the workers, even in the midst of high inflation.

“We were hopeful when the new minimum wage was announced, thinking it will ease our struggles.

“But in January, not only did we not get the promised wage, we received only half of our salaries.

“How are we supposed to survive like this? Rent, school fees, and daily expenses do not wait. It feels like the government is playing with our lives,” he said

According to Ibrahim Yusuf, the situation is a clear violation of the minimum wage agreement.

Yusuf said that civil servants were demoralised, a situation that could affect productivity across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“The well-being of workers is deteriorating. They cannot meet basic needs, and many are sinking into debt.

“The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has issued multiple warnings, but some state governments continue to default on implementation of the new minimum wage, we demand immediate action to correct this injustice,” he said.

Mrs Rakiya Isah queried the format for implementing the minimum wage.

Isah said that the implementation of the new minimum wage appeared to be shrouded in secrecy.

“Was there really an increase in minimum wage? I was already adjusting to my enhanced salary package only to see a decrease in January, what is happening?

“How do I survive with six children in this economy? I want to appeal to the unions to look into this, we must not keep quiet on this.

“After the removal of fuel subsidy, I expected a higher minimum wage, but we are given less, and they give us anything that comes to their mind,” she said.

She called for better communication between the Federal Government and its employees.

Mrs Ese Williams urged the Federal Government to address the lopsided implementation of the new minimum wage, which had resulted in some workers earning less than before.

“Things are so expensive now. Transportation costs, high electricity tariff, cost of living generally.

“We were surprised to see the meagre salaries we received in January. It was a far cry from what we were expecting, and something should be done about it,” she said.

She said that going by current economic realities, the average civil servant was already finding it difficult to survive.

She also urged the Federal Government to revisit the issue of income tax, which had also placed a huge burden on finances of the civil servants.

“Imagine a level 15 officer with a monthly salary of less than N400,000 paying about N60,000 tax. That is prohibitive, ” she said.

Mr Joseph Edeh, expressed concern over his meagre take home after the purported implementation of the new minimum wage.

According to Edeh, the civil servants appear to be at the receiving end of the harsh realities of government’s fiscal reforms.

“The civil servants are not being fairly treated with the unclear implementation of the new minimum wage. I have not seen any real implementation of the minimum wage.

” In December, 2024 we saw N40,000 added to the salaries across board; is that how to implement minimum wage?

“The salary is the only source of income for civil servants, and I want to urge the labour unions to wade into this minimum wage confusion because civil servants are being shortcganged,” he said.

Edeh urged the Federal Government to also consider paying severance packages for retiring civil servants, similar to what the politicians get.

“The politicians spend just four years and walk away with huge severance packages. The civil servants, as the major drivers of the economy deserve much better, ” he said.

Dr Chinedu Okafor, a Public Policy Analyst, said that the inconsistency in salary payments, in spite the new minimum wage, highlighted deeper structural issues in Nigeria’s fiscal management.

“When civil servants do not receive their full pay, it affects not just their financial stability but also their mental health and family well-being.

“This undermines trust in government institutions. Sustainable wage policies must be backed by responsible budgeting and financial transparency at both federal and state levels,” he said .

Some federal civil servants also expressed concern that some state governments were paying a higher minimum wage than the Federal Government.

Lagos state had approved N85,000 as minimum wage, same with Rivers. That is N15, 000 higher than N70,000 approved by the Federal Government.

Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom, approved N80,000.

According to Raymond Haruna, it is an aberration in an economy like Nigeria, for the Federal Government to insist on N70,000 when some states are paying between N80,000 and N85,000.

“This is the first time I am witnessing such in Nigeria, and I think it is unfair,” he said.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), said that the new minimum wage of N70,000 was being fully implemented.

According to Bawa Mokwa, Director, Press and Public Relations, OAGF, the N70,000 new minimum wage implies that N40, 000 was added to the old minimum wage of N30,000.

“The Federal Government started paying, with the agreement to pay arrears of three months, as well as arrears of 25 per cent increase for workers on the consolidated salary structure.

“The Federal Government also added N40, 000 to the monthly salaries of all categories of workers, from grade level 1 to grade level 17.

“When they finished paying all the arrears in December, the government returned to the normal salary, inclusive of the minimum wage adjustment,” he said.