By: Bayero Ade
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has accused several state governors of politicizing the implementation of the new N70,000 national minimum wage, instead of genuinely prioritizing workers’ welfare.
During the association’s year-end meeting in Lagos, ASCSN National President Shehu Muhammed criticized governors who claim to pay above the federal minimum wage. He described these claims as misleading, pointing out that many workers, including those at the lowest levels in both public and private sectors, already earn beyond this amount.
“Governors claiming to pay N70,000 or more are only playing politics, as there are no workers at the supposed lower levels like level one in most agencies. Many drivers and cleaners are already on higher levels, so these claims are not grounded in reality,” Muhammed said.
He also condemned the uneven implementation of the new wage policy, highlighting that some states had failed to carry out the required consequential adjustment process, which ensures proportional salary increases up to level 17. Without these adjustments, workers at higher levels often receive negligible increases, as little as N1,000 or N2,000, which undermines the policy’s intended impact.
Muhammed reiterated the association’s position that a living wage is essential to reflect the current economic situation. He also announced that the ASCSN is preparing for the next minimum wage negotiation, engaging workers nationwide to gather input and push for a fair and sustainable wage structure.
“We’ve already started laying the groundwork for the next negotiation cycle. Our members at both state and federal levels are tasked with engaging workers to determine a fair minimum wage,” he concluded.
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