The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has expressed concern over the country’s economic situation, saying the economic growth reported by the Federal Government has yet to translate into improved living conditions for Nigerians, particularly workers.
The association also raised concerns over the rising cost of petrol and the impact of inflation on workers’ purchasing power.
President of ASCSN, Shehu Mohammed, spoke on the issues during the association’s South-West zonal workshop in Lagos, themed “A Shift from Confrontation to Collaboration.”
Mohammed said although the Federal Government’s latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures indicated economic growth, the reported expansion had not been reflected in the daily realities of ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, workers remain a critical part of the country’s economic system, but their earnings have continued to lose value as the cost of goods and services rises.
He said, “The reported growth is not reflected in the living condition of Nigerians, especially workers. We are the engine room of the economy. We lubricate the economy, but it is very unfortunate that what we are facing today is that we are lubricating, but we are drying.”
The ASCSN president particularly highlighted the impact of inflation on the N70,000 national minimum wage, saying the value of the wage had been significantly eroded by rising prices even before its full implementation.
He explained that the challenge was not limited to the current economic situation, but had persisted over the past two to three years.
Mohammed said the continued increase in the prices of essential goods and services had made it increasingly difficult for workers to meet their basic needs with their current earnings.
He, however, disclosed that organised labour would begin preparations for negotiations on a new minimum wage ahead of the next review.
“By next year, we are going into negotiations for a new minimum wage. So, any moment from now, in the pre-negotiation session, we need to kick-start the process so we have our data across the table and can negotiate a better minimum wage for Nigerian workers,” he said.
He stressed the importance of beginning preparations early, noting that credible economic data would be required to support the demands of workers during the negotiations.
Meanwhile, the immediate past President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, called for improved remuneration for workers in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Osifo said workers’ salaries should reflect prevailing economic realities, particularly the impact of inflation, while urging stakeholders to prioritise job security and workers’ welfare.
The call comes amid growing concerns over the rising cost of living and the pressure being placed on workers and households across the country.
The ASCSN also maintained that meaningful economic growth should be measured not only by increases in GDP but by its impact on the standard of living, purchasing power and overall welfare of citizens.
