The Federal Government has started paying the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage to over 1.2 million public servants, as negotiations concluded seven months ago. The Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, signed a warrant approving the new salary structure, which includes consequential adjustments across various civil service levels. The updated salary scales show annual earnings ranging from N930,000 for entry-level officers to N3.6 million for senior officers on grade level 16.
This new payment, effective from September, results in an annual wage bill of N4.019 trillion for the government. The implementation follows President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the wage bill in July, with civil servants confirming they have started receiving the new payments.
Despite this development, some workers and pensioners have expressed dissatisfaction. A grade-level 12 officer noted the increase was insufficient given the economic hardship, while pensioners in the Southwest demanded a renegotiation for a minimum wage of N250,000, citing rising fuel prices.
The private sector has also raised concerns about complying with the new wage. Business groups, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), expressed support for paying fair wages but warned that some smaller businesses may struggle to meet the new requirement without government assistance.
