Federal Government To Increase Workers’ Salaries In 2023
The Federal government has said a Presidential Committee on salaries has been set up to review and adjust workers’ salaries in 2023, the motive of salary increments for public and civil servants is to cushion the negative effects of the incessant inflation in the Country.
This new development was made known by Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment at Abuja while with President Muhammadu Buhari in a closed-door meeting.
Describing 2022 as a year of industrial disagreement, Chris Ngige disclosed that he is open to engaging in extensive discussion on some important issues relating to productivity and employment in his Ministry.
According to him, the presidential committee on salaries increment is working in collaboration with the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission. Asked when the salary increment would kick off, Ngige replied that the government would make an official announcement concerning that in 2023.
Referring to 2022 as a year of industrial dispute, Ngige recalled that in February 2022, the Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on industrial action that lasted for eight months, as well as other Academic and Research Institutes.
Still, in 2022, the Medical Doctors’ Association and the National Association of Resident Doctors also threatened the government demanding an increase in their salaries.
Concerning the Health Sector, the Labour boss pinpointed that the Presidential Committee is currently on the issue and hopefully next year, with the available resources, the government would do something positive come 2023.
Speaking on the outstanding eight-month salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senator Chris Ngige noted that the matter is already in court in order for the issue to be interpreted properly in accordance with the Trade Dispute Act of ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
The Industrial Court would determine whether workers who embarked on strike should be paid for a period they did not work in violation of the Trade Dispute Act, section 43 which confirms that one would not be paid or compensated for refusing to go to work.
