In Nigeria, the recent salary increments announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration have sparked widespread discontent among federal employees, despite being framed as a Workers Day gift by the government. The increases, which range from 25% to 35% for various civil service grades, were intended to ease the financial strain on public workers. However, the reaction from the workforce suggests that the measures have fallen short of expectations and have been perceived as another layer of deceit by an administration already criticized for its handling of economic policies.
Kingston Orji, a Level 12 officer in a federal ministry in Enugu State, articulated the frustration felt by many. Orji pointed out that the administration began its tenure by removing fuel subsidies, a move that was supposed to be mitigated by supportive measures for the populace. Instead, according to Orji, “They promised palliatives but ended up sharing it among themselves. Since last year, we have bought petrol at different prices, and now, it has gone up to N800 per liter; yet, there is nothing on the ground to ameliorate the hardship it has caused.”
The announcement of the wage increase, made by Emmanuel Njoku, head of press at the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), has been criticized for its timing and the lack of comprehensive consultation. The government reportedly set up committees to collate the views of workers across the country but went ahead to announce the increments before these committees could conclude their findings and make recommendations. This premature announcement has led many, including Orji, to question the relevance of these committees and the sincerity of the government in listening to the needs of its workers.
Jane Okafor, an official from the State Ministry of Justice and a mother of four, also expressed disillusionment with the government’s approach. Okafor stressed that a good government should continually assess the mood of its people and adapt its policies accordingly. “Is the government saying that it is not aware of the economic situation that has kept many homes in pain?” she asked, pointing out the rapid increase in the cost of living and the government’s failure to implement effective programs to shield the populace from these economic pressures.
The sentiment is echoed by Eddy Nwanna, a former coordinator for the Forum for Pensioners in the Southeast, who argued that the government’s response—or lack thereof—to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians indicates a disregard for public welfare. Nwanna accused the government of paying lip service to the needs of the people, suggesting that the administration seems content with allowing citizens to “either die or continue to live in abject poverty.”
The outcry is not limited to a few voices but is a widespread sentiment among workers across various sectors. In Rivers State, Amadi Akujobi criticized the government’s action as insufficient, given the harsh economic realities. The cost of basic necessities like garri, a staple food, has skyrocketed, making the increments seem trivial. “The economy is biting and salary adjustment cannot bring anything to the table,” Akujobi stated.
The situation has led to a broader critique of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, which many believe are deepening the divide between the rich and the poor in Nigeria. Michael Ogiri, another federal employee, described the government’s actions as mere handouts that fail to address the underlying issues plaguing the Nigerian economy. “This government has brought so much excruciating pain to Nigerians,” Ogiri lamented, highlighting the severe impact of subsidy removal and naira devaluation on the average citizen.
Workers’ representatives and labor unions have also voiced their concerns. Joe Ajaero, President of the National Labour Congress (NLC), pointed out that the salary adjustments were not part of a holistic wage review and accused the government of using the announcement to mislead the public. According to Ajaero, “It is like paying Level 1 to 7, and the other people have been agitating, and after four years you now say Level 8 to 10, we add you. There is no review at all.”
The sentiment is shared by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), whose president, Dr. Tommy Okon, acknowledged that while the harmonization of salaries is a positive step, it was long overdue and should not be mistaken for a comprehensive wage review. Okon called for the government to ensure that any future minimum wage adjustments are implemented across all sectors simultaneously to maintain parity.
As the debate continues, the dissatisfaction among Nigerian workers highlights a critical need for the government to reevaluate its approach to economic management and labor relations. The workers’ call for more significant, impactful changes that genuinely improve living standards reflects a growing impatience with policies perceived as superficial or insufficient in addressing the country’s economic challenges. The administration’s next steps could be crucial in determining its relationship with the public sector workforce and its broader reputation for handling Nigeria’s economic issues.
