FG Announces 15 % Wage Increase For Civil Servants
 21st DEC 2006

The Federal Government on Tuesday announced a 15 per cent wage increase for all its civil servants with effect from January 2007.

The increase affects the consolidated emoluments of all officers across board.

Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Fortunatus Williams, made the announcement in Abuja at the 36th conference of Civil Service Commission with the theme: Extending The Frontiers Of Civil Service Reforms.

His words: "It is hoped that government will continue to review the take home pay of civil servants from time to time, so that they can give their best at all times."

Williams noted that if such regular reviews were done, indulgence in corrupt practices would be reduced, thereby attracting and retaining the best brains in the service.

"Those who have been eased out of the service should be paid their severance benefits so that they can rebuild their lives," he added.

He also explained that the monitisation policy was aimed at moderating cost of administration and reducing waste.

He, however, said the Federal government needed to take another look at the policy with regard to accommodation.

William said civil servants had expected that they would be given a lump sum of money, which would have assisted them to rent residential accommodation.

"Rather, they are paid accommodation allowance on a monthly basis - an amount insufficient to rent a decent accommodation as landlords demand annual rent at a go," he said.

He also urged the government to take the training of its workers very seriously in its reform programme.

He noted that the provision of about 20 per cent of the ministries' budget for training was hardly implemented.

"What then happens is that there is no co-coordinated and properly planned training programme. The result is that thousands of mushroom training consultants are bombarding the civil service daily with spurious training programmes,'' he added.

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