…As FG, Labour agree on consequential adjustments on Minimum wage***
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC)
on Thursday in Abuja shared a total of N693.529 billion to the three tiers of
government for the month of September, 2019.
The N693.529 billion, comprising revenue from Value Added
Tax(VAT), Exchange Gain and Gross Statutory Revenue in the month, was less than
the N631.796 billion received in the previous month by N32.095 billion.
A communiqué read by the Accountant General of the
Federation (AGF) Mr. Ahmed Idris, confirmed that the gross statutory
revenue for the month of September was N599.701billion.
For the month, gross revenue of N92.874 billion was
generated from VAT as against N88.082 billion distributed in the previous
month, indicating an increase of N4.792 billion.
According to the communique, N0.954 billion was also
realised from Exchange Gain for the month.
A breakdown of the allocation showed that from the
total revenue of N693.529 billion shared, the Federal Government received
N293.801 billion, the States received N186.816 billion, and the Local
Government Council received N140.864 billion.
The Oil Producing States shared N51.532 billion as 13 per
cent derivation, while the Revenue Generating Agencies received N20.517
billion as cost of revenue collection.
The communique also stated that in September 2019, revenue
from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Company Income Tax (CIT) decreased while
Royalties, Import and Excise Duties and Value Added Tax increased
considerably.
However, the AGF said that as at Oct. 17, the balance in the
Excess Crude Account was $323.692million.
In the meantime, Government and the labour unions may have
tentatively reached agreement, following three days of negotiations by both
parties on the consequential adjustments of the implementation of the new
minimum wage of N30,000.
The Conciliators to the agreement are Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige and his state counterpart, Dr Festus Keyamo.
Also read: FAAC: FG, States, LGAs share N769.52bn for July
Witnesses to the agreement from the Government side are; Dr
Folashade Yemi-Esan, Ag. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Mr
Olusegun Olufehinti, Director IPPIS, Office of the Accountant General of the
Federation.
On the Labour side was Mr. Simon Anchaver, Ag. Chairman
JNPSNC and, Mr. Alade Bashir, Secretary General, JNPSNC.
A communiqué was issued and the end of the negotiations and
signed by all parties.
“Following the threat by Organised Labour not to guarantee
industrial peace after Wednesday, October 16, 2019, as a result of the deadlock
in the ongoing negotiation on the Consequential Adjustment of emoluments in
Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) arising from the
New National Minimum Wage of Thirty Thousand Naira (N30, 000.00) as imbued in
the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, the Honourable Minister of Labour and
Employment in exercise of his powers under the Trade Dispute Act, CAP T8, Laws
of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, apprehended the trade dispute and
called the parties to conciliation meetings.
“He met each of the Joint National Public Service
Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) on Wednesday, 9th October and Monday 15th October,
2019. Thereafter, joint meetings were held on 16th, 17th and 18th of October,
2019, after which the following Terms of Settlement and Agreement pertaining to
the Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustments in the Public Service were reached.
“The consequential adjustment for Consolidated Public
Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), called group one is;
GL 07 -23.2 per cent, GL 08 -20 per cent, GL 09 – 19 per cent, GL 10 – 14 is 16
per cent, while GL 15-17 is 14 per cent.
“The second Group consists of Consolidated Health Salary
Structure (CONHESS), Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary
Structure (CONTEDISS), Consolidated University Academic Salary
Structure II (CONUASS II).
“Others are; Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of
Education Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Research and
Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
“For Grade Level seven and its equivalent, it is 23.2 per
cent, GL 8-14 Equivalent at 16 per cent, and
GL 15-17/Equivalent at 10.5 per cent.”
Confirming the agreement, the Trade Union Congress in a
statement, said it was a win-win situation for Nigerian workers and commended
the Federal Government and organised labour for their patience while the
National Minimum Wage negotiations lasted.
The statement jointly signed by President of the Congress,
Mr Quadri Olaleye and Secretary General, Mr Musa-Lawal Ozigi, said it was not
an easy journey, applauding government’s team for their wisdom and sincerity.
“We commend the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr
Folashade Yemi-Esan and her team for their sincerity.
“Though they argued that government cannot afford to meet
our earlier demand of N30,000 minimum wage across board, because of the
economic situation in the country, we made them understand that some people
cannot be more Nigerian than others, If we are tightening our belts, government
should also do so.”
The Union said as an organisation and a major stakeholder in
the Nigerian project, they believe that the parties have done well.
“We shifted grounds and that is why we were able to resolve
things without major injuries. It is a win-win situation.”
The TUC boss said he was particularly happy with the
agreement, because it has addressed some salary discrepancies and overlapping
issues that workers have agitated about.
“This is a unique agreement and we promise to build on that
by God’s grace,” he added.
Earlier, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris
Ngige said the new minimum wage was a national law and it must be obeyed by all
tiers of government.
“We have often repeated that the essence of that law was for
the president to lift the vulnerable working force both in the private and
public service.
“This is a national law and it must be obeyed by all; state
government, local government and all persons concerned that employ more than 25
persons in their organisation.
“We have decided to fast tract discussions. We are fast
tracking it because we need to put an end to the issue of minimum wage till the
next five years, when it will arise again.
“We need to finalise this today. The suspense is too much
for the people. Even your constituency- workers, if we don’t conclude today,
they will be thinking otherwise.
“They will start thinking that you have been compromised,
even the government side, if we don’t conclude today, they will start saying
you people are influencing us.
“This negotiation should be, in the spirit of give and take,
in the spirit of one nation, end this thing. If we decide to empty the purse so
that the nation will go broke, it will affect all of us.
“If we do give and take, look at government purse and know
that this purse has been badly depleted, make some concession, it will be in
the interest of Nigeria.”
NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, had earlier said that the
organised labour would continue to be open minded and would keep up with the
principles of collective bargaining.
“We on this side of the table we are ready to ensure that we
bring the entire process to a conclusion.
“In the normal practice of Collective Bargaining, you look
at issues from both sides, you look at the situation with workers, vis a viz
their pockets and what will make the workers happy and very productive.
“If wishes were horses, we would have wished that this entire negotiation was concluded yesterday.”
