The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has issued a stern warning to states that fail to adopt the new national minimum wage of N70,000. During its 5th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Lagos, newly elected President Shehu Muhammed declared, “For states not ready to implement the new minimum wage, let me tell you categorically, it is impossible. We are coming for them.”
Muhammed called on state governments to embrace the new wage to improve citizens’ living standards, highlighting that increased allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) should support this transition. He emphasized the need for states to cut wastages, block fund leakages, and align incomes with inflation rates.
The ASCSN’s Secretary General, Joshua Apebo, also urged immediate implementation of the wage increase, citing enhanced FAAC allocations following the removal of fuel subsidies. He suggested adopting measures to curb wastage and indexing income to inflation as recommended by the Chief Ernest Shonekan committee.
Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), extended his support to the ASCSN’s new leadership, stressing the importance of prioritizing workers’ interests.