The Federal Government has approved 25 percent and 35 percent of salary increase for civil servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures.

The Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Mr Emmanuel Njoku, said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25 percent and 35 percent in salary increase for Civil Servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures.

“They include Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) and Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS).

“Others are: Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS). Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).

“The increases will take effect from January 1,” he said.

According to Njoku, the Federal Government has also approved increases in pension of between 20 per cent and 28 per cent for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme.

He said this was in respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures and would also take effect from January 1.

He said the move was in line with the provisions of Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The official recalled that those in the Tertiary Education and Health Sectors had already received their increases.

“This involves Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for universities.

“For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involves the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS).

“The Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS),” Njoku said.

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State Government has demonstrated its commitment to providing affordable and quality education to its residents by approving and disbursing a total sum of N849,555,000 in scholarships and bursaries to 10,066 students in its tertiary institutions.

This was announced by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, on Tuesday at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to Sule, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration’s commitment to education is evident in its T.H.E.M.E.S plus Agenda, which prioritises effective and affordable education for all residents.

He noted that Lagos state-owned tertiary institutions did not participate in the recent workers’ strikes, demonstrating the government’s dedication to education development.

“Not going on strike when all other tertiary institutions were on strike is a feat that we pride ourselves on.

“This is to further show that our able governor does not pay lip service to the agenda.

“We know it will keep getting better, we are proud of all our institutions.

“Lagos State University is the oldest institution but new institutions are catching up,” he said.

Recall that the ministerial briefing began on April 24.

It will continue until May 29, with ministries giving accounts of their stewardships in the last one year of Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

“The sum of N335,600,000 was approved for 1,591 undergraduates and PhD recipients as 2022/2023 Scholarship Award as well as the 2022/2023 Governor’s Discretionary Awards.

“Also, N513,955,000 was approved for 6,884 in bursary award for undergraduates and law school students.

“A total of N849,555,000.00 was released in 2023 for 8,475, making a total of 10,066 as beneficiaries of the scholarship and bursary,” he said.

Sule mentioned that the state government is focusing on promoting extensive reading among students by rehabilitating and digitising 300 secondary schools and 40 public libraries.

“The reading culture isn’t what it used to be. This is why the administration deemed it necessary to ensure that students have access to these facilities.

“When we digitalised these libraries, we dedicated power generating sets. Monthly, there is N250,000 set aside and given to these secondary schools with digitalised libraries so they would run seamlessly.

“When policies are made, we consider how it will succeed; so, this was well planned out because we have a target,” he said.

In a move to bolster economic strength and achieve the gazetted route of the Lagos- Calabar coastal road project’s corridors, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has assured that the project will be constructed to join a parallel alignment with the road connecting the Lekki Deep Sea Port and Dangote Refinery.

The Minister hinted that more beachfronts, obstructions and structures along the federal government’s gazetted right-of-way will be demolished.

Umahi, while speaking on the sideline of the project tour around Lagos Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Lagos, mentioned that a Hi-Tech construction company would construct a flyover along the 47km to connect the Lekki Deep Seaport to Epe and Dangote Refinery.

The Minister noted that properties and obstructions along the gazetted right-of-way of the Lagos-Calabar highway project must be realigned to achieve the goal of the coastal highway project stretching towards Lagos and eight other states in the country.

He said the demolition had commenced after he inspected kilometres 13, 16 and 20 of the coastal road project to ensure that the economically viable route to access the coastal road is without any damage.

Umahi further noted that the federal government reclaimed the right of way of the Lagos-Calabar coastal shorelines to pave the way for the realisation of the project.

He said the demolition was necessary as part of the project plan since the structures were located on the Federal Government’s right-of-way.

He said a lot of structures would be affected by the demolition, adding that compensation would be provided where necessary.

He affirmed that the demolition of obstructions along the federal government’s right-of-way began with the Mami Chula lifestyle beachfront and Landmark Beach Resort after holding several meetings with stakeholders, property owners and traditional institutions in the state.

The minister said the demolition will go on despite claims of Landmark CEO, citing job loss and business deactivation while he stressed that the owner was making a lot of noise despite knowing that his structure was not affected.

The Minister insisted that the coastal project will go on despite the politics being played by Landmark to sway the media that his structure has been destroyed.

The Minister stressed that several structures would be affected by the demolition, adding that compensation would be provided.

Umahi said, “With the utmost fear of God, and the commitment to the Renewed Hope prudency agenda of President Bola Tinubu. It’s in a right-of-way within the coastal corridor, which is the legitimate right-of-way of the federal government.

“Before the flag-off of the Landmark’s demolition, I graciously increased the period by another seven days and yet another four days, and here we are because the project stopped because of a lack of demolition.”

The Minister acknowledged that some people opposed the project but he insisted that it was necessary for economic development.

He assured those affected by the demolition that they would be adequately compensated and added that documentation would start between May 2 and 3.

Umahi also assured that he would be available throughout the week to address the confirmation or payment issues related to the demolition exercise.