FG finally increases workers’ salaries •Effective July 1

Written by Clement Idoko, Abuja Friday, 18 June 2010

THE Federal Government, on Thursday, announced a salary increase for its workers, effective from July 1, 2010, as part of efforts to improve their welfare and boost higher productivity in the public service.

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, who made this known in Abuja at a news briefing, as part of the programme marking the 2010 Nigeria Public Service Day, said the new pay package was arrived at after rigorous negotiations with the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC).

He assured workers that the increment had been captured in the Supplementary Appropriation presented by President Goodluck Jonathan to the National Assembly, adding that as soon it was passed, the new package would be paid to the workers beginning from next month.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, had, following successful negotiations for the suspension of the proposed warning strike by JPSNC over pay increase in the public service on May 3, 2010, inaugurated a Joint Negotiating Committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Professor Oladipo Afolabi, to find a common ground for the increase of salaries of the federal workers.

Accordingly, the head of service said: “As part of efforts to encourage higher productivity in the service, the Federal Government has decided to increase the salary of workers with effect from 1st July, 2010.”

In reaction to questions by journalists on the reality of the salary increase and the date, Oronsaye, Said: “I can tell you that July 1, is July 1. July 1, is the effective date. The provision for the increase has been incorporated in the supplementary budget.

“You know as well as I know that the payment will now be subjected to the approval from the National Assembly. It is something that has already been discussed with the National Assembly. Once the appropriation is in place, it will be paid,” he stated.

Oronsaye, who, however, expressed regrets over the gradual erosion of the core values of humility, integrity, honesty, efficiency and desire to render service in public service in the country, said the current administration of President Jonathan was committed to surmounting the challenges in achieving transformation of the service.

He said the week-long 2010 Public Service Day, with the theme: Strengthening Leadership and Management for Improved Public service Delivery in Africa, would afford Nigeria the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the civil service over the last 50 years of attainment of political independence and reflected on the challenges faced, as well as the way forward to better service delivery to the people.

He said the government would continue to address squarely, “all issues that will help to prepare the public service to face the daunting challenges of national development and satisfy the high expectation of our people,” adding that with each sunrise and sunset and, most importantly, with God on our side, we shall arrive at the point where we can confidently say ours is a five-star civil service.”

Accordingly, the Head of Service performed symbolic disbursement of the N11 billion Federal Government Staff Housing Scheme revolving loans to a total of 300 public servants, at an interest rate of three per cent with repayment period of 25 years.

To further spur workers to higher productivity, Oronsaye revealed that in continuation of the Group Life Assurance Policy, the government procured this year insurance cover for all its employees at the standardised rates of 3.00 t0 4.45 per mille for core civil servants, paramilitary staff, police, security staff and armed forces, adding that the premium had also been negotiated to a total sum of N7,608,730,320 as opposed to 21 billion in the previous years.