Federal civil servants have reported the commencement of payments for the November 2023 wage award, according to interviews conducted by our correspondent.
The payment of wage awards to Nigerian workers was part of the agreements reached between organised labour and the Federal Government to alleviate the impact of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
Initially, the government suspended the payment of the wage award, a decision that drew criticism from activists and other stakeholders.
This development occurred amidst revelations that the government had reduced the allocation for wage awards by N100 billion in the 2023 supplementary budget.
The Nigeria Labour Congress condemned the government’s actions as dishonourable, while the Trade Union Congress warned of potential industrial action if civil servants were not paid their wage awards.
A senior civil servant, speaking anonymously, disclosed that some civil servants had begun receiving the November 2023 wage award.
“Payment started this morning, and others in my agency have also confirmed receipt,” the source stated.
Similarly, another senior civil servant from a Federal Government-owned institution outside Abuja confirmed the payment, stating, “Yes, the November 2023 wage award has been disbursed.”
Responding to the ultimatum issued by organised labour, the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, assured that the government would resume the payment of wage awards.
Further details are awaited.
