May Day: Doctors, others to benefit from pay rise, arrears – FG assures

Deborah Tolu-Kolawole

Doctors, lecturers and other categories of civil servants under the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure, Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, popularly known as CONMESS, alongside the CONHESS and CONTISS salary scales will also benefit from an undisclosed percentage of pay rise, Nigeria’s minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige disclosed on Monday.

Speaking during the commemoration of the 2023 International Workers’ Day celebration at Eagle’s Square in Abuja, Ngige, said workers will also be paid arrears of the increase from January 2023.

The Reportr Door had earlier reported how only the 144,766 federal civil servants under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure benefited from the introduction of the 40% pay rise (peculiar allowance) by the Federal Government.

Addressing the public during the event, Dr. Ngige noted that the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission are working towards the finalisation of the increase.

“ It will also be recalled that since the emergence of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure on the first of January, 2007, it has not been reviewed by any of the past administrations but for the consequential Minimum wage adjustment of 2019, for all wage structures under this government in 2019.

“However, in line with the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian workers, the Federal Government recently worked out the introduction of a 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance into the remuneration and emoluments of core federal civil servants and other public servants on the CONPSS to help cushion the effects of inflation and other costs of doing their work as they are not on any special allowances.

“This demonstrates the government and leadership commitment to improving workers’ welfare and conditions of service even without any Industrial action but is a fallout of social dialogue.

“However other workers in the other different wage structures like CONHESS, CONMESS, CONUAS and CONTISS that started their Collective Bargaining with their Employer even with Industrial action, are wounding up their CBAs fo9. the National Salaries Incomes and wages to transmit same for final treatment as provisions were made in the 2023 Appropriations for them with effect from 1st January 2023”.