In an Abuja, Federal civil servants praised the Federal Government for keeping to its promise to pay the arrears of the new minimum wage, which came into effect in April.
Some of the government workers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the arrears were paid on Monday.
Mrs Chikamso Nwobodo, a civil servant who resides at Nyanya, said the payment came as a surprise to her.
“I was saving some money to settle my children’s school fees by January but as soon as I received the alert for the minimum wage arrears, I was overjoyed as I needed to buy some food items for the New Year also.
“I know the Federal Government promised they will pay the money this December but I didn’t put my mind there because most times they pay late.
“I want to use this opportunity to commend the Federal Government for this money. It is not easy because some government will promise and will not fulfil their promise.
“It shows that the government has the interest of civil servants at heart. I hope they will continue this way in addressing issues concerning civil servants, kudos to them.
“We should commend them when they do well,’’ she said.
Why FG workers are in celebration mood over the jumbo payment, not all states has adopted the new consequential adjustment of the minimum wage into the scheme. Although many states are beginning to harness plan with Labour, so as to commence payment January.
Earlier, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) directed state councils to await directives to engage governors who failed to meet the December 31 implementation deadline
NLC President Ayuba Wabba, in a New Year message, said: “We implore states that are yet to implement the new national minimum wage, including the states that are yet to begin negotiation with labour on the consequential wage adjustment, to speedily do the needful.
“In tandem with our position as adopted and communicated after a stakeholders’ meeting on December 11, 2019, Organised Labour will not guarantee industrial harmony in states that fail to implement the new national minimum wage by December 31, 2019.”
The NLC leader said: “The new national minimum wage is now a law and governors do not have the luxury to choose whether to pay or not.”
Kano State paid the new wage last month. Katsina Benue, kwara, Gombe, all set to commence payment this year.
