By Raphael Ekpang
The governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has expressed the willingness of his administration to implement the new national minimum wage for civil servants from grade level six downwards.
Engineer Sule made this known while playing host to the national leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Women Commission, at the Government House, on Friday.
Gov. Sule said his administration is willing to increase the salary of civil servants from grade level six downwards to the N30, 000 new minimum wage.
He however appealed for the understanding of state civil servants from level 7 to 16, who are already enjoying higher salaries as was implemented by the previous administration, with civil servants in that category earning higher salaries even more than some of their colleagues in states like Kaduna, Plateau and Kwara, where the new national minimum wage was implemented.
The Governor said his administration is waiting for the committee on the new national minimum wage, to submit its report for him to sign.
“We are willing to sign it today. We will not tamper with the status quo for civil servants on grade level 7 to 16.
“We are being more than generous for a state that is struggling,” he stated.
Engineer Sule however urged officials of all unions in the state, to appeal to their members for understanding, especially that Nasarawa State is still contending with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 and other challenges.
Commenting on the issue of promotion, the Governor noted that it’s not too much responsibility for any institution to promote its employees, stressing however that it’s necessary to match promotion with performance.
Engineer Sule said the civil service in Nasarawa State needs to be reformed, which informed the decision of his administration to embark on the training of civil servants, as well as empowering them with proper tools to work.
“If you give somebody responsibility, give them proper tools, encouragement and training, and let them perform. If they don’t perform, then promotion doesn’t come,” he said.
He said the thrust of his administration is to reform the state civil service, to make civil servants in the state become more competitive, even better than civil servants working in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
On the matter concerning the outstanding salary arrears of some civil servants in the state, also inherited from the previous administration, Engineer Sule, expressed willingness to implement the report recently submitted by the Committee on Promotions and Salary Arrears, as well as releases their payment.
Earlier in her remarks, the National Chairperson of the TUC women wing, Hafsat Shuaibu, commended the Governor for carrying women along in his administration.
Mrs. Shuaibu said the TUC women wing decided to come to Nasarawa State to hold its annual seminar, with women drawn across the 36 states and the FCT, mostly because of the Governor’s records of achievements.
She however appealed to Engineer Sule to implement the new national minimum wage, as well as settle the salary arrears of some civil servants in the state.
