Workers in the civil service across the nation have demanded that for the restoration of gratuity payments to public service employees in treasury-funded Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and the inclusion of pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the review of pension rates.

The workers under the umbrella of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) at the Union’s fifth Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held in Lagos on Monday, said this should be done as a matter of urgency.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for approving the N70,000 minimum wage, the association demanded that “A committee be set up to work the consequential adjustments arising from the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2024 so that no grade level of workers will be short-changed.”

The leadership of the union equally implored the state governments to take necessary measures to block wastages and leakages in government expenditure “so that they could implement the new national minimum wage to improve the standard of living of their citizens. Moreso, because they have been receiving enhanced funds from the Federal Account Allocation Committee since the removal of fuel subsidy in May, 2023.”

The ASCSN Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, emphasised that the discontinuation of gratuity payments, which had been a long-standing benefit for public service employees, has created significant disparities within the public sector.

According to him, “Since the enactment of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) in 2004, public service employees in treasury-funded MDAs have been excluded from receiving gratuity, unlike their counterparts in the private sector and non-treasury-funded MDAs who continue to enjoy this benefit.”
Apebo urged the government to reinstate gratuity payments without delay, arguing that it is crucial for recognizing the meritorious service of these employees and securing their post-retirement welfare.

“We strongly advocated for the inclusion of CPS pensioners in the periodic review of pension rates. According to Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution, pensions are to be reviewed every five years or alongside any federal civil service salary reviews. However, CPS pensioners have been excluded from recent adjustments, leaving them at a disadvantage compared to those under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).”

“We appeal to the government to rectify this oversight in future pension reviews to ensure equitable treatment of all pensioners,” Apebo added.

Meanwhile, the Union elected new executive into its Central Working Committee with Comrade Shehu Muhammed emerging as the new National President of the ASCSN succeeding the immediate past president, Tommy Etim Okon.

Highlighting his vision for the Union, Muhammed vowed to continue in the struggle for a living wage and improved welfare package for workers.
“A living wage that will cater for the basic needs of the worker and at least 3 dependents. It will go a long way in addressing the issue of hunger which the teeming youths are agitating for as some of these youths are also dependants of the workers.”

Earlier in his address, the National President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo declared support for the Union and vowed to defend the interests members of trade unions across Nigeria.

“Our role as Labour leaders is to fight for the workers cutting across all the nook and cranny of the nation. We should be a backbone of those that elected us.”