The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Professional Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has urged the Federal Government to immediately settle the outstanding two-month wage award owed to public sector workers, warning that the delay has compounded the economic hardship facing employees across the country.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, AUPCTRE National President, Benjamin Anthony, said the union had repeatedly written to the Federal Government over the unpaid wage award but had yet to receive the remaining two months’ payment. He added that soaring inflation had significantly eroded the purchasing power of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, leaving many workers struggling to meet basic living expenses.
Anthony, who also serves as the National Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), explained that the government initially owed workers four months’ wage award.
He said the union’s engagements with the government resulted in the payment of one month’s entitlement, followed by another month after further intervention, leaving two months still outstanding.
“We have written several letters to the government. After paying one month, they promised to pay the remaining months, but nothing happened,” Anthony said.
“We wrote again, and another month was paid. Today, workers are still being owed two months’ wage award, and we do not understand why the government is treating workers this way.”
Anthony disclosed that the union had recently written to the Minister of Finance, requesting the immediate release of the outstanding payments.
He also expressed concern over the deteriorating welfare of Nigerian workers, arguing that the country’s economic challenges and persistent inflation had rendered the ₦70,000 national minimum wage inadequate.
According to him, the minimum wage can no longer meet the essential needs of an average family because of the rising costs of food, housing, healthcare, transportation, and education.
“A family of six cannot survive on ₦70,000, considering the rising cost of living,” he said.
“The economic realities have swallowed the minimum wage. Workers are finding it extremely difficult to survive because the wage can no longer meet their basic needs.”
Anthony commended state governments that had fully implemented the new national minimum wage and urged those yet to comply to do so without further delay.
He further called on the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive salary review independent of the minimum wage implementation, arguing that workers’ remuneration should be adjusted periodically to reflect prevailing economic conditions.
“We expect the Federal Government to also review salaries in line with inflation, just as some states have done. That is the only way to provide real relief for workers,” Anthony said.
