Civil servants in some states in northern Nigeria have reacted to the new approved minimum wage with a mix of fears and hopes.
WikkiTimes reports that President Bola Tinubu approved N70,000 minimum wage for workers on 18th July 2024.
Tinubu also promised to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
A civil servant in Gombe, Muhammed Ibrahim, said the newly approved minimum wage of N70,000 is nothing to write home about as it does little to improve the lives of the civil servants.
He said: “It is below expectation because it doesn’t change much in view of the massive inflation. The devaluation of naira and the increment of the food prices affect everything.”
He decried that some people ignorantly are envious of salary increment to which they stand to indirectly benefit.
“They are angry that only civil servants get a salary increment but the reality of it is that everybody else has everything to increase prices but civil servants don’t.
He lamented that soaring food prices and cost of transportation, which are out of control of civil servants, consume most of their earnings.
“The Government just looks the other way for people to do whatever they want to do. There is no law or law enforcement on price control. So, because of that, there is no price control. So civil servants are the only people who don’t have anything to add to their price.”
Similarly, Mohammed Abubakar, another civil servant at the Federal College of Education, Gombe said with the current economic situation, the minimum wage will only give room for price hikes on goods.
He said to prevent this, the government needs to do better in regulating inflation so that workers can feel the impact of the increment.
“The economic hardship we are facing is enough reality that N70,000 as a minimum will do nothing to improve our livelihood. We need the government’s intervention in regulating prices because even as we speak, businessmen are already planning on how to increase prices of things in the market,” he said.
In Bauchi state, Mohammed Ali, said he was very excited on hearing the News yesterday about the minimum wage increment.
“As a civil servant in Toro local government, I’m confident that our salaries will be boosted.
In Jigawa, a civil servant, Mal Zangina Habu, said that the new minimum wage is an improvement that could alleviate some of the hardships Nigerians face.
“We heard that the new minimum wage has been approved at 70,000 naira, although it hasn’t been implemented yet. If it truly becomes 70,000 naira, that’s an improvement. It may not entirely address the hardships Nigerians endure, but it will reduce them by half.”
Disappointed
But for another worker, Mal Habibu Ahmed, it’s a disappointment with the new minimum wage.
He said: “I was hoping this would be a turning point for us, considering the hunger and rising food prices but the change is not close to filling the gaps. How can we survive on that amount with our families? The smallest family here typically consists of four members, not counting the extended family we often support. Most of us run out of money before the next salary.
“I am confident the Jigawa government can pay the new minimum wage, but my concern is that the amount is insufficient to support myself and my family. I urge the federal government and the Labour Congress to reconsider this.”
In Yobe state, Alhaji Kachalla Ali who works with the Ministry of Land and Solid Minerals lamented that the new minimum wage cannot lift Nigerians out of poverty.
“The new minimum wage of 70,000 naira cannot lift Nigerians out of poverty. We were expecting three hundred thousand or more. Civil servants are running at a loss.
“A junior staff member, at level six or below, will spend at least seven to eight thousand naira every day for a month. Therefore, the new minimum wage cannot meet the needs of civil servants, especially in these tough times.”
“So, we expect the governor to manage to pay the new minimum wage. It might be in arrears, but it will be paid. The last one was paid, so we hope this one will start immediately. I urge the government to assist the less privilege, as many are suffering from hunger.” He added.
Fear
Ali remains doubtful if his employer can fulfil its obligation in implementing the new pay package.
“I’m skeptical about the Bauchi state government’s ability to pay us a significant increase, up to 50,000 considering that many states such as Zamfara state, despite the previous minimum wage increase, still pays their workers far below the minimum.”
He added that “It’s disheartening to see that the main challenge facing government workers is the government itself, which receives substantial funds but struggles to pay its employees a fair wage.”
Mal Habibu Ahmed shared in similar concern, “We are still waiting to see if the government can actually pay this amount. Governors across Nigeria have expressed concerns about their ability to meet this new minimum wage. Everyone shares this worry, and if they can’t pay, we are back to square one.”
