By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Executive Private Secretary to the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, Chief Moses Nwan, has said State governors should increase workers salaries according to the available resources accrued in them.
Nwan said not all States are viable to pay the same minimum wage as proposed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Recall that States since the removal of fuel subsidy have promised to increase workers salaries following demands from the NLC.
However, just recently, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki increased workers salaries from N30,000, to N70,000, while his Ebonyi State counterpart, Governor Francis Nwifuru added N10, 000 pushing it up to N40, 000.
Also, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised to announce a new salary structure for the State civil servants, while the federal government has approved a pay increase of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent for civil servants on the remaining six consolidated salary structures.
Responding to journalists on the sideline, after the workers day celebration in Jos, Nwan agreed with the response of the government but emphasized that the disparity is understood because all States do not have a uniform financial muscle.
He also advised the government not only to concentrate on salary increment but also fashion ways to ensure that the economy is stabilized so as to have a reduction in the prices of commodities.
The Governor’s Aide who will also be celebrating his 36 years in marriage in May 2024 also lauded the government for listening to the cry of workers and taking proactive steps to address the hardship faced as a result of the subsidy removal.
According to him: “It is also necessary to say that as the salary is increased, certain parameters should be considered to ensure that while workers are still in service, they should be able to meet their needs.
“The increase in salary is not the end of the matter, but that it should be done according to the resources that are available to the government. If the NLC is asking for N700,000 pay rise, it is within the resources of the government to agree based on what is available.
“Like I said, the government should be appreciated for taking some steps further to address the country’s challenges. This is to say that the government is conscious of the fact that the amount that is currently being paid will not meet the needs of the civil servants.
“It is our belief that this gesture will spur the civil servants to work harder, because it is the civil servants that are used in generating revenue”, he said.
