The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Federal Government to swiftly conclude the review process of the national minimum wage for civil servants.
The union emphasizes the urgency for teachers to receive adequate salaries that allow them to fulfill their financial responsibilities and maintain a respectable standard of living, rather than relying on inconsistent monthly aid that fails to lessen their economic strain.
General Secretary, Mike Ene, expressed concern over the insufficiency and variability of financial aid across different states.
He noted that compliance with the wage directive has been lacking, with some states falling behind by four months. “Even in states that have complied, the amounts can be as meager as N10,000, which is insufficient in the face of rising inflation,” Ene remarked.
Despite some states’ failure to meet the current N35,000 minimum wage, Ene remains hopeful that the revised wage will be legally binding for all states once established.
“So, the government should not hide behind wage awards to delay the completion of the Minimum Wage Review and also ensure it comes up with salaries that workers will be proud of to take to market.
“After then, each state government can now begin to add some money on top maybe on a monthly or yearly basis for their workers to further augment their salaries,” he stressed.
