The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to immediately increase the salaries of federal workers rather than wait for the next review of the national minimum wage.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing journalists after a meeting of the union’s National Administrative Executive Council.
Osifo said the government had the power to improve workers’ pay without waiting for a new Minimum Wage Act.
He explained that the national minimum wage should serve as the lowest amount an employer is required to pay workers and should not prevent the government or employers from offering higher salaries.
Osifo said the government could improve workers’ welfare without waiting for a new Minimum Wage Act.
“The Federal Government can increase the salaries of its lowest-paid workers and adjust the pay structure upwards. In the private sector, many employers already pay above the statutory minimum, particularly for workers with specialised skills and greater responsibilities,” Osifo said.
He cited banks, food and beverage companies, and oil and gas firms as examples.
According to him, their salaries were generally based on the value of the jobs rather than the national minimum wage.
The TUC president also said the government could review workers’ allowances separately from the minimum wage.
Osifo said the union had engaged government officials, including the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on measures to improve workers’ welfare.
“He urged the government to take immediate steps to ease the economic burden on workers rather than wait until the next minimum wage review,” Osifo said.