This approval was officially announced in a report issued by the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on Thursday, October 19, 2023. It was earlier signed by Ekpo U. O, who is the NSIWC Chairman.
This has brought both happiness and complaint to Nigerians. On one hand, some civil servants explained that the increase shows that the Government cares about the public. On the other hand, due to the rise in inflation around the country, analysts complain that this increase of N5,000 is not enough to sustain civil servants.
This new increment affects both the Treasury funded and Non-treasury funded Federal Government agencies and parastatal. However, Non-treasury funded Federal Government agencies will be directed to implement this protocol from their internally generated revenues. As for the treasury-funded federal government ministries, departments, and agencies, they will be funded from the treasury.
The circular issued reads “I hereby convey the approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the grant of a wage award of N35,000:00 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only per month to all Federal Government workers with effect from 1 September 2023 pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law”.
The circular, which was addressed to various government officials, also stated that the implementation of the new minimum wage for federally funded ministries, departments, and agencies will be effective from Friday, September 1, 2023.