Civil servants on Consolidated Public Salary Structure (CONPSS) yesterday expressed joy over the payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and arrears by the Federal Government.
The workers, who are mostly those on Grades one to seven in Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the payment.
Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, who yesterday spoke on the development , said other categories of workers,especially in ministries, will start receiving theirs before the end of this week.
A civil servant, Agnes Iguben said she was surprised to see an increase when she received her April salary
Iguben said the money would go a long way in meeting her family needs throughout the month.
She said: “I want to commend President Muhammadu Buhari, though I do not know what the increase is about but the government did well for us.
“Some people said it is a 40 per cent increase to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy that will be removed in June.
“Whatever it is, I pray it will continue so that my family can live an improved life.”
Abubakar Idowu, another civil servant, said the development was commendable and well appreciated.
Idowu said that although he was yet to receive the credit alert of his salary, he was convinced the news story was true.
“God bless the President. I know even his enemies will pray for him secretly for this; Everywhere is stew, everywhere correct.
“This is meant to help government workers to cushion the effects of rising inflation, the rising cost of living, hikes in transportation fare, housing, electricity and the likely removal of fuel subsidy,” he said.
Another civil servant, who preferred anonymity, appealed to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to continue with the payment with a view to gaining popularity from workers.
“Most times, outgoing governments will make a law and the new government can change it.
“I pray that this will not be the case in this increment,” the worker said.
Ngige added: “Federal civil servants in the ministries, maybe their own will come later in the month but everybody on CONPSS will receive the salary increase,” Ngige said.
However, nurses and midwives decried their non-inclusion in the package, saying it was discriminatory.
The other categories of workers under the employment of the government, but operating under different salary structures, are excluded from the package
They are doctors who are on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and health workers, who are on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Other federal workers who will not benefit are academics who are on the Consolidated University Academic Structure (CONUASS) and workers in research institutions, under the Consolidated Research and Associated Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
Ngige, who explained that the payment is on graduated basis, restated that the increment is meant to help workers cushion the effects of inflation, high cost of living and transportation fare as well as housing and electricity tariff.
The minister said: “The peculiar allowance was approved by the Presidential Committee on Salaries and was being paid to federal workers.
“The Accountant – General informed me that they have started paying. They are paying with the three months arrears of peculiar allowance.
“Anybody on CONPSS has started receiving the salary increase. That was the first group that was concluded and has been approved by the Presidential Committee on Salaries.
“Some civil servants have started receiving the alerts. It is on a graduated scale of coverage.”
The minister had said the pay rise was included in the 2023 budget .
However, while workers commended the government for the package, nurses and midwives in federal health institutions warned that their exclusion could trigger crisis in their sector.
Nurses and midwives said they had been calling for salary adjustment since 2016 without positive outcomes by the several committees set up by the government.
“Instead of motivating those health workers, who have agreed to stay in the country to salvage the health system by this pay rise, the best thing government could do was to exclude nurses,” National Chairman of the National Association Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institution (NANNM-FHI) sector, said..
Rilwan added that the government had no justification to exclude some sections of civil servants, especially in the health sector from the pay rise since everyone, including all workers patronise the same market and pay same bills.
He said it was unfortunate that the action came at a time of mass exodus of nurses and midwives. .
Rilwan said, “Instead of motivating those health workers, who have agreed to stay in the country to salvage the health system by this pay rise, the best thing government could do was to exclude nurses.
“The last time Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS) was adjusted was in 2010 and most of the allowances due to nurses were being short paid, for instance 30 per cent shift allowance with less than 10 per cent being paid to nurses.
“Many things are causing agitation, including Nurses Special Salary Structure.
“However, we are just getting the news this weekend and we are studying the situation while consultation with relevant stakeholders is ongoing, especially our parent body.
“But the fact is that our members are not happy with the exclusion and we cannot continue keeping quiet.
“Nurses have suffered enough neglect and deprivation as front line workers in health sector.”
THE NATION.
