Plans are underway for an upward review of salary structures for civil servants by the Federal Government, Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Chris Ngige hinted yesterday.
He said the government was already reviewing the civil and public servants’ salary structures and will soon make a pronouncement on salary increase to cushion the effect of rising inflation.
The minister, who spoke with State House reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, appraised the outgoing year and described 2022 as a year of industrial disputes.
He used the prolonged varsity lecturers’ strike as an example.
Speaking on the plight of public servants, especially with the spiraling inflation, Ngige said the “Presidential Committee on Salaries is already reviewing the salary structures and is expected to come up with salary adjustment in the New Year”.
The minister said his visit to the Villa was to brief the President on the activities of his ministry in the outgoing year, particularly on issues bothering on employment and productivity.
On what they discussed on salary increase, he said: “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 minister and I’m the co-chair to look at the demands of the workers. Outside this, I said discussions on that evaluation are going.”
Also asked whether a time line had been given on the implementation of new salary increase, the minister said: “As we enter the New Year, the government will make some pronouncements in that direction.
“Well, majorly, I came to brief Mr. President. You know the year is coming to an end and we have to look at 2022 exhaustively. We discuss Labour issues and what we are able to do.
