As labour unions commemorate this year’s Workers’ Day today across the country, civil servants in various states on Wednesday said the N70,000 new national minimum wage is not enough to cater for their cost of living amidst rising inflation.
Last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers. Standing on this template, some states agreed to pay their workers above the N70,000 new national minimum wage and commenced the implementation of the payment.
Despite this, workers in various states have expressed worry over their inability to use the pay to cater for their necessary needs.
Inflation has affected salary increase in Kano
In Kano, the state government has commenced payment of N71,000 as new national minimum wage, a little above the N70,000 threshold approved by the federal government and combined labour unions.
Although the implementation was also in full, many workers who spoke to Daily Trust said the amount could still barely cater for them for a whole month, hence they resort to alternatives.
Sulaiman Aminu Yakasai, a civil servant in the state said, “For us the civil servants in Kano State, we have the advantage of combining work with business as side hustle. Even the minimum wage we get is still not enough for us and our family. So, I usually go to market after closing hours and on weekends to make ends meet.”
Similarly, another classroom teacher in Kano, Salihu Umar, said he still doesn’t regret keeping his shop at Kantin Kwari garment market even after he got a salary job, saying even with the increase, the salary does not sustain him for a complete month.
The story is not different to even married women who are civil servants. Binta Abdullahi, a health worker in the state said she also sells wares to her colleagues at work and recovers the money at the end of the month. She said she spends more than half her salary on transport to and from her work.
“Our state government has increased our minimum wage and has started payment since last year, but the reality is that inflation has already eaten the increase. It is almost impossible now for a worker to live comfortably on salary without debt,” she lamented.
Workers in Kaduna express disappointment
A Kaduna-based teacher, Abdul, expressed disappointment over the state government’s treatment of civil servants, particularly regarding the minimum wage. While describing the situation as unfair, he said workers were being treated like slaves. “Our minimum wage can’t even take care of our families. Kaduna State hasn’t fully implemented it, and local government workers are the worst hit,” he said.
Abdul added that Workers’ Day has no meaning for him, as the government ignores their struggles. He said proper implementation of the new minimum wage would at least offer some relief.
Usmaniya, another civil servant, said only junior staff (levels 2 to 6) received slight increases, while senior staff saw minimal changes. “I got just N4,000 extra. What’s the use of furthering your education if salaries don’t reflect it?” he asked.
He also decried the failure to implement promotions, saying many promoted staff haven’t seen salary adjustments.
Zainabu, a health worker, said she hasn’t received her pay slip in a long time and is unaware of her entitlements. “Hazard and rural allowances aren’t being paid. Many workers, especially those with years of service are not happy with the current situation,” she said.
Minimum wage can’t cater for my family
Mustapha Modu, a worker in Borno State said the minimum wage cannot cater for his family.
“How can N70,000 minimum wage pay children school fees, pay rent and feed the family?
“What we are witnessing in this country is a total collapse of governance, because those in power don’t care about the welfare of citizens,” he said.
Another civil servant Rabilu Muhammad said government only reviewed the minimum wage to punish the masses.
“How much do we pay for electricity and mobile data now? In fact, with the introduction of Band A tariff, more than half of this salary can go to electricity.
“The government is insensitive to our plight, because every subsidy that people benefit has been withdrawn,” he said.
‘It’s between devil and deep blue sea in Kwara’
Speaking on the issue, a civil servant in the state who simply identified himself as AB described the situation as living between the “devil and deep blue sea”.
“The recently approved minimum wage by the state government has quickly proven to be inadequate in meeting the basic needs of workers. While initially received with cautious optimism, the reality on ground shows that it falls short of expectations.
“With the continuous rise in the prices of essential commodities, the wage can barely sustain a worker for two weeks, let alone an entire month. From food items to transportation and basic utilities, the cost of living has surged beyond what the current wage structure can support.
“This situation has left many workers struggling to make ends meet, raising urgent concerns about the sustainability of the current wage policy. Without a corresponding strategy to manage inflation and ensure price stability, any wage increment risks becoming ineffective almost immediately,” he stated.
Another worker, Mr Ola, said “The minimum wage is grossly not enough for me as a civil servant based on the economic situation of the country.
“For example, because of the rise in the cost of living, my salary does not cover my basic needs like housing, food for my family, healthcare and children’s school fees.
“My appeal to the government is to regularly review and update the minimum wage to reflect changing economic conditions by introducing control prices for food commodities and others.
“The government should provide additional benefits, such as free healthcare, education, access to transportation such as rail and buses for inter states and housing assistance for the civil servants”.
A female secondary school teacher in the state who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation, told Daily Trust that “The ‘living wage’ promised by the government last year has unfortunately ended in a great disappointment and shock.
“Even the leaders of NLC and the workers are yet to believe that the minimum wage increase would be less than N50,000 in a country where the prices of almost every household commodities has increased above 300%.
“Our wage now is not even enough for transportation, feeding, health and all other necessities. Our situation as a salary earner is pitiable. We are celebrating nothing on Workers Day than untold hunger and hardship in all ramifications.
“If truly the government is interested in the welfare of workers, it is high time they adjust our earnings to reflect a living wage, not this slavery circle we are being recycled”.
Workers in Ondo call for stable economy
Civil servants in Ondo State have called for a stable economy amid the hardship and high inflation rate in the country.
Some of them, who spoke in a phone chat with our reporter, said the minimum wage of N70,000 could no longer solve their needs in the face of high cost of services and goods.
We are not living on minimum wage – Bayelsa civil servants
Civil servants in Bayelsa State have decried the high cost of living in the country, saying even the new minimum wage paid by the state government does not even cater for the needs of their family.
They stated that even the transport to and from the work on a daily basis will finish the N80,000 naira being paid to the lowest cadre of the civil servants, not to talk about feeding a family of five.
A staff in the Bayelsa State Secondary School Board, who simply identified himself as Tareibi, said as a level 8 officer in the service, his salary on monthly basis is a little above one hundred thousand, but lamenting that the amount doesn’t take care of his transportation, feeding for him and his family, payment of bills and other expenses that are on the shoulder of a father in the house.
Another civil servant, Ebilade, who works with one of the ministries at the state secretariat, said the minimum wage is not even enough for feeding, not to talk about payment of school fees for children and other bills.
Mrs Ebiere Marlin, a civil servant with one of the government agencies, said her husband has already enrolled her to learn tailoring, so that after work, she could have another work to generate income for her.
Plateau retirees seek harmonisation
The Plateau State government has since last year implemented the N70,000 minimum wage for both the state and the local government workers.
However, the retirees in the state said they were yet to enjoy that. They said they were also entitled to minimum wage to reflect in their pension if the proper harmonisation was done.
Speaking with Daily Trust, one of the retirees who was the Acting NLC Chairman for Plateau State, Comrade Gunshin Yarlings, said they were told by their leaders from the pension side that the government was looking at its financial capacity and resources available to implement.
Nigerian workers are engine propelling our nation towards prosperity – Atiku
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the Nigerian worker stands as the indomitable engine propelling our nation towards its long-sought prosperity.
Speaking in commemoration of this year’s Workers’ Day, Atiku, in a statement issued through his media office, extolled the immeasurable contributions of Nigerian workers, asserting that their resilience and sacrifice are the very heartbeat of national development.
Akpabio assures Nigerians of labour-friendly legislation
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerians of labour-friendly legislations as workers celebrate May Day.
He also commended Nigerian workers for their productivity, diligence, commitment to duty and resilience even in the face of socio-economic challenges.
Akpabio in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the Nigerian workers noting that they have always prioritised nation above any consideration.
PRP wants Nigerian workers celebrated
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has called for the celebration of Nigerian workers as they joined their counterparts worldwide to celebrate this year’s May Day.
The party said it stands in solidarity with Nigeria’s hardworking and resilient labour force.
