WORKERS in the country have finally presented their wage demand to the Federal Government, requesting for a 317 per cent pay rise for all cadres of workers.
The workers are asking for a total package of N33,396 monthly salary as minimum wage and N435,452 per month for officer on Grade Level 17 step 1.
Under the aegis of National Public Service Negotiating Council (NPSNC) and the Association of Senior Civil Service of Nigeria (ASCSN), the workers called on the Federal Government to commence immediate negotiation with them on the implementation of the new salary structure, and ensure its inclusion in the 2009 budget or face industrial action.
In a letter dated 4 August, 2008 and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, a copy of which the Nigerian Tribune has seen, the workers presented a memorandum on the urgent need for upward wage review in the civil service and another memorandum on leave entitlement.
Entitled: �Negotiation,� and with reference number ASCSN/SGF7VOL.1/267, the letter stated that the need for upward wage review had become imperative as a result of the functions of civil service and the fact that there were many salary structures in the public service as a result of the inadequacy of the salary chart in the service.
The workers based their demand on Consumer Price Index (CPI), the tax question, the payment of rent in advance, the jumbo pay awarded political and top public office holders which is payable across the country, irrespective of the ability of each state or local government to pay, and the danger of low productivity occasioned by poor remuneration packaged for civil servants.
Other factors are the handsome level of the country�s external reserves, reduced real wage due to recent inflation, especially as it relates to foodstuffs.
In arriving at the figure, the workers did a critical analysis of what a prison inmate takes per month in meal allowance, and quantified other benefits such as free accommodation, transportation, utility and annual leave based on current price level.
According to the letter, �the meal allowance of prison inmates at the moment is N18,000 a month, excluding free accommodation, transportation, utility and annual leave. If all these are quantified based on current price level, a GL 02 should receive N33, 396.
�The figure available in the Bureau of Statistics indicates that using 2003 as base year, the price level has risen by 63.4 per cent. For us to achieve the standard of living that was existing in May 2003, the salary/allowances must move up by a minimum of 317 per cent.
�The Trade Union Side has, therefore, proposed N33,396 per month as the minimum salary in the civil service and N435,452 a month for officers on GL 17 step 1.�
The workers stressed the urgent need for a more friendly and affordable tax regime in the civil service by prescribing a minimum/maximum tax for civil servants in the interim pending the time the tax laws are amended.
The letter added: �It is a known fact that it is the tradition in Nigeria for landlords to demand payment of rent in advance.
Even the Federal Government pays such rent. Ayida Panel on Minimum Wage of 2000 recommended the payment of rent in advance to help civil servants as done by the private sector and some public sector organisations. We expect the government to show concern and understanding by introducing it.
�With regard to the issue of leave entitlement, it was negotiated in 1992 and a copy of the Circular Ref. No. B. 63304/XIII/879 of 29th June, 1992 is attached. We believe that if there is need to vary it, the JNPSNC should discuss it and agreement reached. We want to advise that anything to the contrary will not promote industrial harmony and higher productivity in the public sector.�
The workers called for an immediate negotiation and advised that employers and managements must secure the proper mandate from the National Council on Establishments and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) prior to the negotiation.