Personal Finance: Nigerian workers seek salary increments over persistent inflation

*Several Nigerian workers lament despite latest the increases in the pump price of fuel and prices of foodstuffs and other essential goods, their  salaries have remained the same

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In regard to the recent increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol and subsequent increases in prices of goods and services, some Federal and state civil servants have appealed to both governments to increase workers’ salaries to reduce their hardships.

The workers, who spoke in recent separate interviews,  in Katsina, North-West Nigeria, said the appeal was necessary because prices of goods and transportation had also skyrocketed in the country’s economy.

Malam Abdullahi Balarabe, a Federal Government worker in Katsina, said that following the hike in fuel price, prices of goods  also had doubled, agency report said.

Balarabe said what he normally bought for N200 was then being sold for between N300 and N400.

The consumer noted that the situation was constituting a serious challenge to low-earning civil servants in Nigeria.

The civil servant also said: “As you know, despite the increase in the pump price of fuel and the increase in the prices of foodstuffs and other goods, our salaries have remained the same.

“Before the current increase in prices, the salaries of many of us could not even sustain us to the next salary day. Some of us spend our salaries on payment of credits.”

Mr. Edwin Michael, also a Federal civil servant, said that he had to park his vehicle to walk to the office because some of the fuel stations sold petrol for over N184 a litre.

Michael stated: “We are appealing to the Federal Government to do everything possible to increase workers salaries to cover the deficit in our monthly take-home.

“If I now go to the market with my salary I don’t think it will be enough for me to buy what I used to buy before the current increase in the prices of goods.”

Likewise, Malam Adamu Ibrahim, a state civil servant, said that the situation was beyond description, adding that only God could intervene.

Ibrahim lamented his salary as an office assistant could hardly sustain him for the month.

The worker also urged the state government to increase the salaries of its workers, especially those at the lower grades.

A visit to the Katsina Central Market indicated that traders had increased the prices of foodstuffs and other goods, NAN report said.

Malam Isma’il Garba, one of the traders in the market, said the increases in the prices of goods resulted from the similar hike in transport fares.

A litre of fuel now sells for between N184 and N220 in several petrol stations in the state, according to report.

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