Nigeria has approved a salary increase for civil servants ranging from 25% to 35%, aimed at alleviating the challenges posed by the rising cost of living.
According to Reuters, the lowest-paid government employee will now earn $324 (£258) annually.
This raise, backdated to January, includes police officers, military personnel, and other state workers.
The decision, announced just before the Workers’ Day holiday, addresses the pressing issue of inflation, which currently stands at over 30%, the highest in nearly thirty years.
Food prices have surged even more, up by 35% according to the National Bureau of Statistics, effectively nullifying the impact of the pay hikes in real terms.
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) also increased pensions for eligible workers by 20% to 28%.
This move follows recent salary adjustments for academic and healthcare staff.
However, the monthly minimum wage set by the government remains unchanged since 2019, now valued at just $19 (£15) due to the depreciation of the naira.
Despite these adjustments, challenges persist, with the government recently raising electricity tariffs for high-consumption users to reduce fiscal burdens.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) welcomed the salary increases but emphasized the need for fair representation across all civil service tiers, particularly for lower-ranking employees facing economic hardships.
Ongoing negotiations between the government and labor unions aim to address concerns about the minimum wage, which has stagnated amidst soaring food prices and the removal of fuel subsidies, leading to petrol shortages and logistical hurdles in Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.
Source-BBC
