Workers in the federal judiciary are facing severe financial hardship because of the delayed payment of upwards of 35% salary increment for all federal civil servants since the beginning of the year, to them and the non-implementation of the new minimum wage as well The workers are hungry and angry. They want immediate action to be taken by the federal government to address their plight.
As recalled, at the beginning of the year, the Federal Government approved a salary rise of between 25% and 35% for federal public service workers across the various consolidated salary structures in the public sector. The salary increase, even before a national minimum wage which turned out yet again to be a pittance, was negotiated, because of the great impact of rising cost of living on the wellbeing of workers. This palliative increment was with effect from 1 January 2024.
But, as we enter the last weeks of the year, judiciary workers in the federal public service are yet to have the said increase in wages enter their pockets. As if this were not bad enough, the federal judiciary is also yet to begin implementation of the new national minimum wage and consequential increases for workers in the judicial system.
The long delayed payment of the salary rise and non-implementation of the minimum wage and consequential adjustments have resulted in significant financial hardship for the workers. Many are struggling to make ends meet, with some unable to pay their bills, house rent, or even feed their families.
The workers are calling on the Federal Government to intervene immediately and pay the outstanding arrears and implement the minimum wage. It is a shame that while the remuneration of judicial officers such as judges were increased by 300% in August by the government, the same government has failed to effect approved salary rise for aeleven months as well as to implement the new minimum wage. The workers our correspondents spoke with said they are looking up to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), to take up their struggle. We urge the union to provide adequate leadership for the union in this fight.
