The federal government has approved a 25–35 percent increase in pay for civil servants, members of the armed forces, and police officers.

The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) made this announcement on Tuesday. It stated that the pay increase will be implemented on January 1, 2024.

The NSIWC said that the authorised wage increase of 25 to 35 percent was for civil servants on the remaining six consolidated compensation structures in a statement released by its Head of Press, Emmanuel Njoku.

The commission said, “The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25 per cent and 35 percent in salary for civil servants on the remaining six consolidated salary structures.”

It outlined the structures to include the “Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, the consolidated research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure Consolidated Police Salary Structure, Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.”

Recall that those in the tertiary education and health sectors had already received their increases, which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary structures and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary structures for Universities.

For polytechnics and colleges of education, it involved the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure.

The health sector also benefited from the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the Health Sector Salary Structure.

“In line with the provisions of Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Federal Government has also approved increases in pension of between 20 percent and 28 percent for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme in respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from January 1, 2024,” the NSIWC stated.

Prior to 2024, Nigerian civil servants had been advocating for a salary raise. Negotiations included talks of a 40 percent increase, but an agreement was reached for a range of increases between 25 percent and 35 percent to be implemented in January 2024. This increase applies to federal civil servants under various consolidated salary structures.

Also, Nigerian labour unions have been pushing for a significant increase in the minimum wage for workers across the country.

The Nigeria Labour Congress had initially proposed N615,000 per month, while the Trade Union Congress suggested figures ranging from N447,000 to N850,000 depending on the region.

The unions argue the current minimum wage, which expired in April 2024, is insufficient due to rising inflation and the high cost of living.

Talks are ongoing, and the unions have revised their demands downward. The NLC now seeks around N500,000 while considering proposals from their state chapters.

Negotiations are influenced by recent events like the electricity tariff hike, making unions argue for a higher raise. A final decision is expected by May 1, 2024 (May Day).

Plans are in motion to extradite Binance’s regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, to Nigeria so that he can face charges, according to the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol).

Speaking on Tuesday during Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily broadcast, Garba Umar is the vice president of the Interpol (Africa) executive committee.

The federal government filed charges of tax evasion and money laundering against Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s chief of financial crime compliance.

On February 28, the two were taken into custody.

On March 22, Anjarwalla, together with his colleague Tigran Gambaryan, managed to flee from the federal government’s custody at a guest house located in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.

In keeping with the spirit of the Ramadan fast, Anjarwalla was rumoured to have escaped when guards brought him to a nearby mosque for prayers.

The Binance regional manager, who is said to hold British and Kenyan citizenship, reportedly fled Nigeria with a passport from the East African country.

Last week, reports suggesting that the Kenya Police had arrested Anjarwalla surfaced.

The Interpol official did not confirm the reports but noted that Kenya is where the fleeing crypto chief was last seen.

“I’m not aware but what I can tell you is that the last destination I know on my record of this guy when he fled (Nigeria) was Kenya. That I can confirm to you,” Umar said.

Umar added that Interpol has contacted all countries where Anjarwalla was believed to have transited and “we got some certain information which is not possible to share on this platform”.

“Rest assured, we located where he was, how he boarded, all information about him and how he landed. We have done that to make sure that he doesn’t escape justice,” he added.

Umar added that the Binance executive will be returned to Nigeria to face trial once a red notice has been issued and circulated to concerned countries.

“Now, it is not only morally right but it is legally right for the country to get him apprehended, inform the requesting country that ‘the fugitive you are looking for has been apprehended and is in our custody. Can you come and take him over?’” Umar said.

“This is the process. He may be in Kenya, he may be in hiding, he might have even left Kenya but because of the notices we have given, wherever he is, he will be smoked out.”

Gambaryan is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after his arraignment.

Recently, Yuki, Gambaryan’s wife, appealed to the federal government to release her husband, saying he had no influence on Binance’s corporate decisions.

The non-payment of nearly N200 billion in bridging claims has prompted the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to declare that it will make actions that will severely impair the petrol supply.

The emergence of this development coincides with a gas shortage, driving up transportation expenses.

In order to guarantee a consistent pump price throughout the nation, bridging claims covers the expense of moving fuel from depots to authorised zones.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA) is the entity that is responsible for the debt, according to a statement issued by Aba Depot’s unit chairman and spokesperson, Oliver Okolo, following a news conference on Tuesday.

Okolo said NMDPRA failed to pay the N200 billion debt, accruing since September 2022 — despite a directive for payment from Heineken Lokpobiri, the minister of petroleum resources (oil).

“We are poised to take far-reaching decisions that may cripple the supply and sales of petroleum products across Nigeria, if our demands are not met within the shortest period,” he said.

He said the NMDPRA’s delay in offsetting the debt has led to the “deaths of many of our members and the unfortunate collapse of their businesses”.

“As businessmen and women, our members acquired bank loans to keep their fuel retail outlets running daily across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, to serve the teeming population of Nigerians,” he said.

“However, it is demoralising to know that many of our members have gone bankrupt and have become financially insolvent as a result of their inability to meet their financial obligations to their banks, arising wholly from their inability to get their monies from the NMDPRA.

“Consequently, also, the banks have taken over the business premises of many of our members.

“As indigenous organisations, and Depot Chairmen, we are unhappy that rather than receive support from the government to boost our businesses, we are being discouraged, by the head of NMDPRA.

“It is noteworthy to recall and state here that at a stakeholders meeting held on the 20th of February, 2024 with Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), and the NSA Nuhu Ribadu, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Authority of NMDPRA, was mandated by Mr. Heinehken Lokpobiri to clear the entire debt in 40 days.”

However, after the 40-day deadline, Okolo said a paltry sum of N13 billion has been paid.

The NMDPRA and IPMAN have a history of disputes over bridging claims, with the latter often threatening to withdraw services.