The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that the payment of the newly approved minimum wage will begin in July 2024, according to the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Commission, Ekpo Nta, during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
Nta explained that the July start date was chosen because it marks the period when President Bola Tinubu approved the bill, following its passage by the National Assembly.
This decision effectively overrides an earlier statement made by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who had previously indicated that payment would commence on May 1, 2024.
The delayed payment schedule means that federal workers will only be entitled to two months of arrears if the government begins payments by the end of October, contrary to expectations that the increase would be backdated to May.
In addition to announcing the minimum wage payment timeline, the NSIWC also revealed the approval of revisions to the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and other salary frameworks affecting public service employees.
Nta emphasized that the July 2024 implementation was in accordance with the legislative timeline and noted that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that the salary adjustments are implemented smoothly and without further delays.
