Appropriate documentation of modern state workers dates back to the 19th century in the United States when public service/administration became complex, structured, and organized. Before that, most workers and farmers were mostly independent (without a recognized union).
In 1934 the first union, a labor bureau was created in Massachusetts with the simple aim of maintaining and improving workers’ conditions. An event that started the transition from the old to the present state workers model around the world.
History Of State Workers and the Nigerian Public Service
Before the British came to Africa, there was no such thing as Nigeria, however, powerful tribes, kingdoms, and ethnic groups were far spread across the Niger-delta land and its environs. The British then slowly amalgamated most of the tribes into a single colony (Nigerialisation). Under the influence of a colonial administrative system called “Indirect rule”. To steer, maintain, and regulate the economy of their new colony, many Nigerians and local Africans were employed in different areas of trade and services. Some were employed to work in offices and others on the field.
Having realized that a stand-alone union was pivotal for the growth, management, and progression of their new colony, the Central Public Service Board was created by the colonial masters to interview, recommend, appoint, or promote qualified candidates within and outside the service. The Central Service Board consists of the Civil Service Commissioner, the Director of Education, and one representative of each regional board. This was to make certain that all levels and types of workers were well represented and their major needs catered for.
Taking major steps toward independence, the Federal Public Service Commission was consequently established on the 1st of April, 1954 through a Provision under section 174 of the Nigerian Order-in-Council (Constitution) of 1954.
In 1960, Nigeria finally gained independence from the British Colonial Authority. The Public Service Commission was entrenched into the Independence constitution to perform functions of appointments, promotion, and discipline in the Public Service. Particularly Government businesses in the day were organized under departmental establishments such as:- the Public Works Department, Treasury Department, Forestry Department, Health Department, the Nigerian Railways, the Electricity Board, and the Telecommunication Board to mention a few.
The name was later changed from Federal Public Service Commission to Federal Civil Service Commission under section 140(b) of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To this very day, remnants of the colonial master’s systems of operation are still apparent in the Nigerian Public Service, albeit with declining and unproductive reforms.
Maltreatment and underpayment of workers by State governments in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the terms “public” and “civil” servants are often used interchangeably. However, it is crucial to distinguish the subtle differences between them. A public servant is a broader term that refers to those employed in government by government agencies, examples include Civil servants, political appointees, public officers, and employees of government-owned companies and enterprises. These employments may be based on permanent or temporary recruitments.
A civil servant on the other hand refers to those permanently and specifically employed by federal, state, or local governments typically in a non-political and nonpartisan role. They are mostly hired in areas like the Civil Service Commission, health and education ministries, departments, and agencies. Examples are Grade Level 1-17 teachers, and doctors to name a few in various ministries, departments, and local government council staff.
One of the current inhumane trends within the Nigerian State civil service is the Underpayment of state and local government civil workers which is the main focus of this article. When the British left, various policies and commissions were established to maintain and better the conditions of the Nigerian civil service.
One of these policies is the Morgan Commission of 1963 aimed at reviewing wages, salaries, and conditions of junior workers in both the public and private sectors. It also recommended a standard minimum wage based on a geographical basis. However, this commission failed to take into account the need for structural and behavioral changes in the Public service. Despite these reforms and others, the Nigerian civil service continues to suffer stagnation, underdevelopment, and poor growth.
The average salary of civil servants in Nigeria varies significantly based on grade levels and states. For instance, in Lagos State, salaries range from approximately ₦62,000 for entry-level positions (Grade Level 1) to around ₦640,000 for higher-level and veteran workers. The salary of Lagos State civil servants is generally higher compared to those in other states in Nigeria.
In recent years, the minimum wage in Lagos State has increased from around ₦19,000 to over ₦62,000. This is significantly higher than the previous national minimum wage of ₦30,000 per month which was signed into law in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari. In comparison with other states like Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Kogi, and many other states who failed or delayed increasing the minimum wage to the approved amount. This is a bad example of how policies are either delayed, squashed, or abandoned by state governments in Nigeria and how state workers’ well-being is of little importance to them. A testament to the sorry state we’ve found ourselves as a developing nation.
According to this article by Punch, despite the #30,000 minimum wage signed into law in 2019, over fifteen out of thirty-six states in Nigeria are yet to implement the approved minimum image. This begs the question, is this simply because these states can’t afford to pay their workers the approved amount? Or it’s purely bad governance and administrative failures by the state governments?
Again, the current president Ahmed Tinubu has signed a new minimum wage of #70,000 across federal, state, and local government workers due to the current economic hardship hitting the country and the dwindling purchasing power of the masses. However, the problem and dangerous precedent here isn’t the approval of the minimum wage like it happened with President Buhari in 2019, but the rigid implementations of these policies and due payment of workers by state governments.
It’s a fact that the majority of state governments in Nigeria are far worse when it comes to paying workers their due salaries, allowances, and benefits as previously mentioned with the fifteen states above who despite the previous minimum wage failed to match the approved amount nor pay their workers when due. Now the question again, Is the new approved minimum wage going to be the same rhetoric?
Also according to the Cable, as of July 2022, over 12 states in Nigeria owe their workers at least a month’s salary while Ondo, Abia, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Adamawa owe their workers over three years or less in remuneration. A sad reality for Nigerian civil workers who have to endure low pay and no pay at all from their governments including benefits, bonuses, and allowances. It also should be noted that over 24 states in Nigeria can’t pay their workers without federal government assistance. Oftentimes funds are released to these states however they still fail to duly pay their workers their rights.
Although Nairametrics reports that over 31 states borrowed about 457.17 billion to pay workers’ salaries, this is a bad reality for Nigeria because states can’t properly cater to the needs of their workers without external interventions or support. Most times the funds are embezzled by state agencies or spent on meaningless projects that bring no development to the people nor benefit the workers. During the beginning of the fuel subsidy removal drama in 2023. Billions of naira were approved by the federal government for state and local government workers, yet most of these funds didn’t make it to the people.
The Detriment of State workers maltreatment and underpayment in Nigeria.
According to the World Journal of Innovative Research, underpayment of government workers has a significant effect on corruption in the public sector in Nigeria. The general belief is that most civil workers in an economy where their salaries can’t match their reality to support their families must resort to corrupt activities because they have no other choice. Hence many civil workers engage in the habits of collecting bribes to spend up procedures, sell out positions, exploitations, and embezzlement of public funds.
This is very common and rampant in the state public sector. In addition to fostering corruption, poor and late salaries negatively impact state workers’ attitudes and performance by lowering their morale, increasing inefficiency, and lack of allegiance, encouraging moonlighting, increasing absenteeism, and diminishing their sense of dignity and self-worth (Myint, 2000).
Some of these workers thus turn ill-mannered, callous, and uncaring in their interactions with the general population. Public school teachers, doctors, lecturers, et cetera et cetera are some examples. Also, the majority of skilled workers are likely to either leave the country or that particular job to seek a greener pasture thereby robbing the states of important assets that could contribute to its growth leaving mediocres to take their places.
Conclusion
For too long state workers’ rights have been trampled upon and abused by state governments in Nigeria either through late payments or poor remuneration. With the current economic crisis facing the country, this isn’t a good look and it is only right the state government starts coming correct on these matters to avoid future conflicts and conundrums. Also, state workers need to come together to find a way to share their grievances and disappointment with the current system and demand a change by establishing strong unions and voices to advocate for their rights.
