As reported by Punch, the Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has expressed disappointment and frustration over the exclusion of retired state workers from the new minimum wage approved by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for state employees..

The governor had earlier approved the payment of ₦70,000 as the new minimum wage in the state, following the Federal Government's announcement.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru, confirmed in a statement that the approved wage would be implemented across the Kwara State public service with immediate effect from October 2024. However, the pensioners' union has criticised the decision to exclude retired state workers from the new minimum wage.

The union has argued that the exclusion of retired state workers from the new minimum wage is unfair and unjust, as they are also affected by the rising cost of living.

“This decision, which includes consequential adjustments to the relevant salary structures, was made after a successful tripartite meeting between government representatives, the leadership of Organised Labour in Kwara State — the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) — and representatives from the organised private sector,” she said.

However, the state chairman of the NUP, Alhaji Saidu Oladimeji, stated that the approved minimum wage excluded retired workers who had laboured to build the state.

Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Ilorin on Saturday, Oladimeji said that state retirees were disappointed that their monthly pensions were not increased as part of the new minimum wage adjustments.

Oladimeji explained that although he was part of the tripartite committee established to work on the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage, he and a few others were excluded when key decisions were made.

“It is unfortunate that some labour leaders deemed unimportant are often excluded from key decisions by the committee, resulting in no pension increase for retired state workers under the new minimum wage. There’s a saying, ‘rest is sweet after labour,’ but for pensioners in Kwara, it’s the reverse – ‘rest is bitter after labour,’” Oladimeji lamented.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Muritala Olayinka, confirmed that the approved minimum wage did not cover pensioners but said that the government would consider an increase to their monthly pensions.

Separately, the Kwara Advocacy Network, in a statement signed by its leader, Mallam Bello Abubakar, on Saturday, argued that the minimum wage policy was poorly conceived and risked deepening poverty among civil servants.

The socio-political group, comprising politically active youth, criticised the recent approval of ₦70,000 minimum wage for lower-level workers. It said that while the increase might appear to be progress, in reality, it exacerbated inequalities.

The statement further highlighted that the current administration had done little to address the widening income gap between Kwara workers and their counterparts in neighbouring states.

“The wage disparity, previously a source of frustration, has only worsened under this leadership. A critical look at the new wage structure shows that there is little to celebrate for Kwara workers, especially given that Kwara is among the top four states where food and essential items are most expensive, according to recent National Bureau of Statistics data,” it said.

The group added, “The new ₦70,000 minimum wage for lower-level workers might look like progress, but it creates further confusion. How can a primary school certificate holder on Grade Level 2 or 3 earn ₦70,000, while their senior on Level 7 earns around ₦76,000? This narrow gap between lower and middle-level workers reflects poorly thought-out government policies.

“This discrepancy demonstrates the government’s failure to recognise the value of experience and reward it accordingly. Governor AbdulRazaq and his advisers appear to be overlooking this obvious issue.

“It should be noted that, during the ₦18,000 minimum wage era, an officer on Level 1 or 2 earned ₦18,000, while an NCE holder on Level 7 earned ₦30,000 – a difference of ₦12,000, enough to buy two bags of rice at that time.”

The group further noted that under the new wage policy, the difference between the salary of an uneducated worker on Level 1 or 2 and a degree holder on Level 8 was less than ₦10,000.

“In today’s Nigeria, what is the value of ₦10,000? I remember during the ₦18,000 minimum wage era, when a worker was promoted from Level 7 to 8, about ₦4,000 was added to their salary, whereas today, only ₦2,145 is added. Yet, this administration boasts about prioritising workers’ welfare.

“The difference between the salaries of Level 14 and 15 officers was more than ₦18,000 under the ₦18,000 minimum wage structure and approximately ₦40,000 under the ₦30,000 structure. Today, however, Governor AbdulRazaq’s flat rate of ₦35,000 for senior workers means a Level 15 officer only gets an additional ₦35,000 instead of ₦70,000.”

The group recommended that the governor and his team review the salaries of workers on Levels 15, 16, and 17 to maintain traditional income structures.

“With inflation soaring and fuel prices hitting record highs, the potential benefits of this wage increase are already diminished. Workers are left struggling to cover basic living expenses,” they concluded.