Akume, Ajaero, others charge commission on fair wages to cushion hardship

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Read History Go to My Account Log Out Enhanced by Google News Akume, Ajaero, others charge commission on fair wages to cushion hardship Amid growing concerns over economic hardship, stakeholders and workers’ unions on Monday charged the Board and Management of the National

Listen to this article Share Amid growing concerns over economic hardship, stakeholders and workers’ unions on Monday charged the Board and Management of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to work out fair wages and strengthen strategic wage governance.

The stakeholders were of the view that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission occupies a critical position in Nigeria’s governance architecture, given its statutory responsibilities for providing sound policy advice, credible wage analysis, effective coordination and constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders.

They noted that prevailing economic reforms and rising public expectations have made the need for a fair, sustainable responsive wage system more compelling, requiring institutions responsible for wage administration to balance the legitimate expectations of workers and with government’s fiscal realities and the broader imperatives of national economic development.

George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in his remarks, charged the body to embrace digital transformation and promote institutional renewal in line with government’s commitment to an efficient, productive and responsive public service.

The SGF, who was able represented by Ibrahim Kana, the Permanent Secretary (GSO), gave the charge at the opening of the 3-day Board and Management Retreat of the Commission, with the theme: “Vision, Strategy and Institutional Renewal” on Monday, in Abuja

He however, reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government, under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to building a more efficient, productive and responsive public service while pursuing economic reforms that promote inclusive growth and improved living standards.

The SGF urged the Commission to strengthen its capacity to anticipate emerging wage-related challenges and provide evidence-based recommendations that promote fair remuneration, fiscal sustainability and industrial peace, stressing that wage policies must be guided by credible data, prevailing economic realities and constructive consultations with organised labour, employers and other relevant stakeholders.

He also called on the Commission to embrace modern technology, strengthen research and data management, improve administrative processes and invest in the professional development of its workforce.

He observed that a modern, digitally enabled Commission would be better positioned to deliver timely, transparent and reliable services while responding effectively to the changing demands of wage administration.

He also emphasised the importance of implementation, accountability and measurable results, urging participants to ensure that the retreat went beyond the exchange of ideas to produce clear priorities, practical strategies, assigned responsibilities and measurable performance indicators.

He called on the Commission to sustain constructive engagement with relevant ministries, departments and agencies, organised labour and other stakeholders, describing an inclusive and credible approach to governance as indispensable to building trust, preventing avoidable industrial disputes and promoting a stable environment for national development.

He therefore urged members of the Board and Management to approach their deliberations with openness, candour and a shared commitment to institutional excellence, expressing confidence that the retreat would lay the foundation for a renewed Commission that was innovative, mindful of the nation’s economic circumstances and unwavering in its commitment to effective wage governance.

“As we work collectively to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, every public institution must demonstrate that it can translate policy intentions into tangible improvements in governance and the lives of Nigerians”, he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, Olumuyiwa Abel, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, described the relationship between his Institution and the Commission as a partnership in progress, noting that their complementary mandates were critical to the welfare, development and overall advancement of the Federal Civil Service.

He emphasised that issues relating to salaries, wages and incomes were matters of national interest that required continuous dialogue, mutual understanding and constructive engagement, even where differences of opinion arose.

He disclosed that th ongoing reforms were aimed at repositioning and re-energising the civil service to become more Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred (EPIC).

He expressed confidence that a properly equipped, refocused and digitally compliant workforce would be instrumental in advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the Federal Government’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030.

Sani Bindawa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), in his address, called for stronger collaboration between the Commission’s Board and Management to promote institutional renewal, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the country’s wage governance framework.

He stressed that the Commission’s ambition should be to build an institution distinguished by professionalism, integrity, sound research, effective stakeholder engagement and measurable results.

The NSIWC Chairman noted that institutional renewal required a shared sense of purpose, with the Board providing strategic oversight and direction, while Management and staff ensured the effective implementation of approved policies and decisions.

He maintained that mutual trust, constructive engagement, disciplined execution and a collective commitment to the Commission’s mandate were essential to achieving sustainable institutional progress.

Joe Ajaero , President of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, in his goodwill message, called on the Federal Government to urgently address the growing economic hardship facing Nigerian workers, stressing that their welfare must be prioritised to sustain productivity, protect livelihoods and promote economic stability.

The NLC leader noted that workers are among the major contributors to government revenue through taxation and therefore deserve adequate attention, particularly as rising living costs continue to erode their purchasing power.