The Federal Government is set to increase the salaries of civil servants, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said.
He stated this on Tuesday when he briefed journalist after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
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“As we enter the new year government will make some pronouncements in that direction,” the minister said on the workable timeframe for the implementation of salaries under review.
“The Presidential Committee on salaries is working hand-in-hand with the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission. The commission is mandated by the Act establishing them to fix salaries, wages, and emoluments in not only the public service.
“If you want their assistance and you are in the private sector, they will also assist you. They have what is called the template for remuneration, for compensation. So if you work, you get compensated, if you don’t work, you will not be compensated.
“So they have the matrix to do the evaluation, so they are working with the Presidential Committee on Salaries Chaired by the finance ministry and I’m the co-chair to look at the demands of the workers. Outside this, I said discussions on that evaluation are going.”
Earlier, Ngige had hinted that the current administration will review the salaries of civil servants upwards to cushion the effect of inflation.
According to the former Anambra Governor, he was at the State House to brief Buhari on the activities of his ministry as the year comes to an end.
He described 2022 as a year of industrial dispute, citing industrial actions unions.
Ngige explained that the private sector managed its affairs better, perhaps because its finances and its management lie within its audit.
“They could do collective bargaining very easily with their workers. The banking sector, food, beverages and finance, insurance, everywhere.
“So, there is calm there. We didn’t have the desired calmness on the government’s side because of the government’s finances.
“However, I’ve briefed him, we are doing some review within the Presidential Committee on Salaries, and discussions are ongoing. The doctors are discussing with the ministry of health, and insurance people in the public sector discussing and there is a general calmness.
“Hopefully, within available resources, the government can do something in the coming year,” he added.
