The Federal Government of Nigeria will begin payment of the planned increase in civil servants’ pay by the end of April,2023, if President Muhammadu Buhari’s final assent for disbursement can be secured.

Government Officials say the fresh pay increase, tagged consequential allowance, would lead to a 40 per cent rise in the current pay of government workers.

The Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, revealed that the Federal Government might begin payment of the 40 per cent pay rise by the end of April this year, adding that the three months arrears of January, February and March however would have to be paid at a later date.

He said, “Consequential allowance Salaries will be increased by 40 per cent for civil servants from level 1 to level 17.

“What we receive now is called consolidated public service salary structure, it is the combination of basic and all allowances. So, the increase will be 40 per cent of what a public servant is earning now.

“They will start paying from the end of this April and the arrears of January, February and March will be paid later. The salary increase is effective from January 2023. That is the proposal submitted by the committee set up to look into salary adjustment for civil servants, but I’m not sure if the President has signed it yet.”

Last month, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige disclosed that the Federal Government had approved a pay raise for civil servants in the country, which had been included in the 2023 budget to take effect from January 1, 2023.

Ngige described the pay raise as a peculiar allowance for civil servants in view of the current economic realities and it is meant to help government workers cushion the effects of rising inflation, cost of living, hikes in transportation fares, housing and electricity tariffs.