In Cross River State, the recent announcement of a new minimum wage of N40,000 by Governor Bassey Otu has sparked significant discontent among civil servants. The declaration was made during the International Workers’ Day celebration at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, which carried the theme “People First.” However, the response from the workers suggested that their expectations were far from met.
The workers, who had high hopes before the announcement, expressed their disappointment openly, noting that the revised wage falls short of meeting the basic cost of living amid Nigeria’s escalating economic challenges. A civil servant, Mrs. Isu Obiewe, conveyed her disillusionment to The Guardian, stating, “I was happy about today, but the announcement of the N40,000 by the governor has spoiled my mood. N40,000 means nothing. N40k cannot take you for one week not to talk of a whole month.”
Mrs. Obiewe’s concerns reflect a broader sentiment among the state’s workforce, who argue that the new wage does not align with the reality of their daily expenses. “How do you pay your children’s school fees? How do you service your loans? How do you pay your rent?” she questioned, highlighting the gap between the wage increase and the economic hardships currently faced by many.
Similarly, Mr. Ekanem Alex added to the chorus of disappointment, pointing to the inflation that has seen the cost of basic necessities, such as a bag of rice, skyrocket from N8,000 during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to N75,000 to N80,000 now. “The state governor just declared N40k; it is too poor! What can N40,000 buy? In the present Nigeria economy, N40,000 cannot achieve anything,” he lamented.
The discontent stems partly from comparisons with other states, where minimum wages have been adjusted to better reflect the current economic conditions. “Even Edo state, that their GDP is not that fantastic, they just increased their minimum wage to N70,000. Why will the Cross River State Governor keep it at N40,000? It is too poor,” Mr. Alex expressed.
Governor Otu, in his address, acknowledged the economic constraints facing the state, citing “the peculiarity of the state’s lean resources caused by the statutory federal allocation aggravated by the unfavorable state GDP.” He defended the decision by stating that the new wage was set “in line with the realities rather than sentiments,” and assured that modalities for its immediate implementation were being finalized.
The governor also highlighted issues within the civil service itself, noting that productivity was adjudged to be barely 5 percent. “It therefore amounts to wasting one’s sweetness in the desert if the government should yield to almost all the demands of workers, yet productivity is not commensurable,” Governor Otu remarked. He maintained that despite understanding the various other demands from organized labor concerning the welfare of workers and pensioners, these issues would be resolved through “continuous robust dialogue.”
The reaction from the leadership of the labor unions underscored the urgency of the situation. The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Cross River State Council, Comrade Gregory Olayi, and the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in their separate speeches, recounted the deterioration of the civil service from bad to worse over the years. They appealed to the governor to not only address the new minimum wage but also focus on the payment of gratuities for pensioners and the implementation of the annual step increment for civil servants.
This situation in Cross River reflects a broader issue across Nigeria, where economic instability and inflation have significantly eroded the purchasing power of average citizens. As the state grapples with these economic challenges, the responses from its civil servants signal a critical need for a reassessment of wage policies to better align with the realities of Nigeria’s economic landscape, ensuring that the welfare of workers is genuinely prioritized in line with the proclaimed theme of “People First.”
