The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has issued a stern warning to states that refuse to implement the newly proposed N70,000 national minimum wage, threatening to cripple activities in those states. This declaration was made by the newly elected President of the association, Shehu Muhammed, during the ASCSN’s 5th Quadrennial Delegates Conference held in Lagos.
Muhammed, who emerged as the new president during the conference, did not mince words in addressing the states that might resist the new wage structure. “For states not ready to implement the new minimum wage, let me tell you categorically, it is impossible. We are coming for them,” he stated firmly.
He urged state governments to take advantage of the increased revenues from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to implement the new wage, thereby improving the standard of living for their citizens. Muhammed suggested that states could achieve this by reducing wastages and plugging leakages in government funds, while also recommending the adoption of a policy that indexes income to match inflation rates.
The ASCSN President emphasized that the top priority for Organized Labour is the full implementation of the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustments across both the federal and state levels. He called for the immediate constitution of a committee to address these adjustments and ensure that Nigerian workers receive a living wage.
Earlier, Joshua Apebo, the Secretary General of the ASCSN, echoed Muhammed’s sentiments, urging state governors to promptly implement the new minimum wage in light of the increased FAAC allocations following the removal of fuel subsidies. Apebo highlighted the importance of reducing financial wastage and adopting policies that align income with inflation, as previously recommended by the Chief Ernest Shonekan committee.
In a show of solidarity, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, pledged his support for the new ASCSN leadership. He encouraged them to prioritize the interests of the union and its members, ensuring that the rights and welfare of workers are vigorously protected.
