September 25, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government and Organised Labour have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Consequential Adjustments in Salaries, following the approval of a N70,000 national minimum wage.
A statement by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Eno Olotu, said the agreement is part of the resolutions reached at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking after the pact was sealed on Friday, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, commended members for the painstaking effort put into the task assigned.
The statement reads: “The committee on Consequential salary adjustments recently constituted by the Federal Government arising from the new Minimum Wage Act 2024 has concluded its assignment with both parties’ signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).
“Speaking after the signing, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, who doubled as Chairman of the Committee, commended members for the painstaking effort put in the task assigned.
“The HCSF said, ‘both the Trade Union and the Government sides have agreed on the Consequential Adjustments in Salaries arising from the new minimum wage of N70,000’.
“Mrs Walson-Jack also disclosed that all the members considered the MOU and have all signed copies, concluding the exercise with handing over copies to representatives on both sides.
“She described the assignment as the shortest and most peaceful negotiations thus far, adding that the signed copy of the MOU would now be forwarded to the Federal Government for further action.
“In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Benjamin Anthony, representing the Trade Union side, commended the HCSF and expressed satisfaction with the committee’s work.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) with effect from July 24.
Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Ekpo Nta, who disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, said President Bola Tinubu assented to the Act after the Bill was forwarded to him by the National Assembly.
Nta urged any federal public service, whether self-funded or treasury funded that had not received a circular to the effect, specifically from the NSIWC, should contact it for further directives.
“This is to avoid an un-coordinated implementation which has the tendency to destroy the existing salary relativities in the federal public service”, said Nta, adding that NSIWC would issue further directives on how pensioners, NYSC members and interns would benefit from the implementation.
The chairman listed other revised templates to include Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II (CONTISS II), Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS), Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Others include Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICSS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
“This is consequent to the enactment of the NSIWC Amendment Act 2024 and the Memorandum of Understanding reached by the committee on consequential adjustments in salaries arising from the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024.
”Between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Trade Union sides of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council Sept. 20″, Nta said.