Civil servants under the payroll of the Federal Government of Nigeria are set to start receiving their new minimum wage payments from Thursday, September 26, 2024.
This was confirmed by Bawa Mokwa, the Spokesperson of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, during an exclusive interview with *DAILY POST*.
Mokwa assured workers that the payment of the newly revised minimum wage would commence today.
“Federal Government civil servants will start getting the new minimum wage from today (Thursday) this September 2024. What I can tell you is that the minimum wage salary payment is today, but I am not sure of the arrears,” he stated.
While the actual commencement of the new minimum wage payment has been confirmed, Mokwa remained unclear on whether the payment would include arrears dating back to when the increase was first announced.
The announcement follows a statement by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, who confirmed on Tuesday that the Federal Government had approved an upward review of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) in line with the new minimum wage.
This development comes as part of the implementation of the *National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024*, which officially raised the national minimum wage to ₦70,000.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the new minimum wage on July 18, 2024, as part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to alleviate the economic pressures faced by Nigerian workers. This increase was met with relief and appreciation by labor unions and civil servants across the country, as it represented a significant improvement from the previous ₦30,000 minimum wage.
However, despite the approval of the new wage, the timing and specifics surrounding its implementation had remained a matter of concern for federal employees. Civil servants, particularly in lower income brackets, have been eagerly awaiting clarity on when the new wage will reflect in their accounts and whether back payments will be included.
