2024 Pension Boost: Federal Government Considers Salary Increase, Says NSIWC

InfoStride News reported that the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has hinted at a possible increase in pension stipends for federal civil service retirees in the coming year. The information is derived from details found in the report on pension harmonization submitted by the NSIWC to the Federal Government.

The proposed increment in pension stipends is intended for both Federal Government pensioners under the new pension scheme and those under the previous scheme. The NSIWC shared this insight with the executive committee of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners during a meeting. The committee, led by Chairman Samuel Adewale, sought clarifications on the anticipated pension raise for federal workers.

According to a statement released by Emmanuel Njoku, the Head of the Press Unit of the commission, the chairman, Ekpo Nta, informed the pensioners that the commission had submitted its report on pension harmonization to the government in May 2023. The report considered inputs from various stakeholders, including pension unions, and took into account the availability of funds. Nta assured the committee that the commission was actively following up on the report, emphasizing its significance in considering potential pension increases in 2024.

Addressing concerns raised by pensioners regarding the non-receipt of recently approved palliatives, the NSIWC chairman assured them that relevant government bodies were addressing the issues. Gabriel Oladele, Chairman of the Committee on Pension NUP-ASU/Parastatals, expressed concerns about the incorrect computation of consequential adjustments and unreasonable deductions from pensions, despite decades of enjoying pension harmonization. He urged the NSIWC to intervene in rectifying these issues.

The NSIWC statement elaborated that Ekpo Nta assured seamless preparations for the pension review in 2024, as mandated by the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 and Section 173(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Responding to a pensioner’s observation about the constitution providing for a “corresponding increase in pensions,” Nta clarified that the term “corresponding” was not used in Section 173(3). He further explained that increases in allowances for serving officers should not be interpreted as increases in salaries.

In summary, InfoStride News conveyed that the NSIWC is actively pursuing the possibility of a pension increase for federal civil service retirees, as outlined in its harmonization report submitted to the Federal Government. The commission is navigating the intricacies of stakeholder inputs, fund availability, and government considerations in preparation for potential pension adjustments in 2024. The assurance of addressing pensioner concerns, including palliative payments and computation issues, reflects the ongoing commitment of the NSIWC to safeguard the welfare of retirees in the Federal Civil Service.