We’re reviewing allowances, not salary increase for civil servants – FG

The Federal Government has debunked reports that it was reviewing the salaries of public and civil servants.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in a rebuttal, said he was misquoted by State House Correspondents on the issue.

The Minister, in a statement issued by the Head, Press and Public Relations unit of the Ministry, Olajide Oshundun, said the increase he alluded to with State House Correspondents in Abuja, was on the remunerations and emoluments of the affected workers, especially the civil servants.

“The attention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has been drawn to the news item that the Federal Government is reviewing salaries of public and civil servants, which was a fallout of his interaction with State House Correspondents after his recent audience with Mr. President.

“The Minister wishes to clarify that the increase he talked about was on the remunerations and emoluments of the affected workers, especially the civil servants,” the statement clarified.

It further explained that the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) had received recommendations for review of allowances of many Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.

“Because the salary component is not being reviewed for now by the Committee, it addressed the allowances component of the requests including the peculiar allowance for Federal Civil Servants amongst others.

“Therefore, the Federal Government through the PCS could not have engaged in the review of salaries without involving the workers through their Unions, represented by these two labour federations of workers in Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), salary review or renegotiation is part of social dialogue and the product is usually a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) usually agreed to by both parties – employers and employees.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister made it clear to the press corps that it is still work in progress and that the end-product of this review of allowances will be submitted to Mr. President for consideration and final approval and that this was one of the Labour issues he briefed him on, that day.

“It’s hoped that this rightful step, which the Federal Government had embarked upon on compassionate grounds without any prodding or threat to strike, will help to cushion the debilitating effects of spiralling inflation, especially that which affects food and energy prices (electricity and petroleum products).

“The Minister wishes to reassure that the Committee is optimistic that Mr. President will receive and consider the recommendations before the end of the first quarter in 2023,” it added.