By ESENVOSA IZAH

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has enjoined the state governments to implement the new National Minimum Wage to improve the standard of living.

ASCSN Secretary-General Joshua Apebo made the call at the union’s national delegates conference held on Monday in Lagos.

Apebo said that the new wage would go a long way in increasing the purchasing power of many Nigerians and consequently stimulate a vibrant economy.

“It is equally important that consequential adjustment should be done as is normally the practice, so that no grade level of workers will be short-changed.

“We also wish to advise that the government should embrace the policy of indexing income to correspond with the rate of inflation as recommended years ago by a committee, “ he said.

He also called for the need to restore gratuity to public service employees in treasury funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He said that the Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2004 had been silent on the issue of payment of gratuity to workers

“Since the act came into force, public service employees in treasury-funded MDAs and their counterparts in states that have not adopted the new pension scheme have not been paid any form of gratuity.

“Whereas, private sector workers and other non-treasury funded and revenue generating MDAs such as Central Bank of Nigeria, have continued to receive gratuity from their employers in spite of the enactment of the 2004 PRA.

“We, therefore, request that gratuity to public service employees in treasury- funded MDAs should be restored without further delay,” he said.

The former ASCSN Kaduna Branch Chairman, Mr Shehu Muhammed, was elected as the new ASCSN National President at the delegates conference.

Muhammed, in his acceptance speech, said that his priority would be to improve the welfare of members in terms of their take-home pay.

“A worker today in Nigeria has a minimum burden of two to four dependants; so, in providing improved welfare package, at least, based on our agitation, we are requiring a living wage to take care of the worker.

“That will go a long way in addressing the hunger issue that teeming youths are protesting against.

“90 per cent of the youths protesting today across the country are either children of workers in both the public and private sector.

“So once you address problems of the worker, definitely it is going to give a significant effect in improving the national economy.

“That is why we are agitating to have a living wage to address the issue of hunger and other social vices,” he said.

In his remarks, the President, Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Mr Festus Osifo, lauded the union for being steadfast in ensuring the welfare of its members.

“I strongly believe that at the end of the day, the leaders that we are going to elect are people that are going to work for our interest; they will not be self-serving leaders.

“In everything we do, we should put our members first and not our personal interest because our personal interest should come down the line in the scheme of things.

“Be rest assured that the TUC will give you the maximum support because in supporting you, we are also supporting ourselves and the larger membership to ensure their welfare is adequately protected,” Osifo said. (NAN)

•PHOTO: From left to right: Former President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Mr Bobboi Kaigama; National President, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Mr Festus Osifo; ASCSN Secretary-General Joshua Apebo at ASCSN’s 5th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held on Monday in Lagos.

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