The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) clarified that the recent announcement by the federal government regarding a 25% to 35% increase in workers’ salaries does not pertain to the minimum wage. Mr. Tommy Okon, the president of the association and also the Vice President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), made this clarification while addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
Okon explained that the approval for the salary increase aims to address salary discrepancies within certain ministries, departments, and agencies, rather than being a revision of the minimum wage. He emphasized that various sectors have benefited from these increases, with the exception being the core Federal Civil Service. He stressed the importance of informing the public accurately, as some may have misunderstood the government’s actions as unilaterally increasing the minimum wage, which is not the case.
According to Okon, the ongoing process of adjusting the minimum wage remains separate from these recent salary adjustments. He highlighted the necessity of this clarification for workers and the general public, underlining that the salary increase was intended to bridge wage gaps within the civil service.
The Federal Government announced on Tuesday an increase ranging from 25% to 35% in the salaries of civil servants across six consolidated salary structures. These structures include the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS), and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).