By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service has advised the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to forward to the Committee areas to strengthen the Commission to function effectively.
Such areas according to the Committee include application of stiffer sanctions on defaulting Public Sector Agencies that don’t comply with approved salary structure.
In a statement by Emma Njoku, Chief Press to the Commission on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau gave the advice when he led members of the Committee on oversight visit to the Commission.
Shekarau who described National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission as a critical agency in the Public Service said the Committee would do everything in its power to strengthen the Commission.
Earlier in a presentation on the Mandate, General Operations, Achievements, 2021 Budget Implementation Plan and Challenges, the Chairman of the Commission, Ekpo Nta informed the Committee that part of challenges of the Commission is lack of enabling law to apply stiffer sanction on defaulting Public Sector Agencies.
The Chairman said the Commission had always provided technical input to the work of the various tripartite committees made up of government, labour unions and employers association (NECA) towards the determination of the National Minimum Wage.
Speaking further, Ekpo Nta said the Commission also provided technical support to government in the creation of new pay structures for the Public Service like harmonization of pay structure in the public service and Pay Consolidation.
On critical function of giving advice to the Federal government, the Ag. Chairman told the Committee that the Commission had written to the Head of Service on the need for upward review of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA).
While responding, a member of the Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi who frowned at the action of State Governors who refused to pay the National Minimum Wage of N30,000 despite the fact that the wage could not take workers home, tasked the Commission to look critically at areas that workers welfare can be improved.
Also speaking, Senator Ali Ndume who noted that the Commission is very critical to the development of the Public Service and should not be left unfunded urged the Commission to put forward areas the Committee could help it for more funding.
The delegation from the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau was made up of Senator Nicholas Tofoworu, Senator Chris Ekpeyong, and Senator Biodun Olujimi, Senator Smart Adeyemi, and Senator Ali Ndume.
