Civil Servants, engine of national development – Expert
By Magdalene Ukuedojor
As Nigeria celebrates Civil Service Week, Dr Hashim Suleiman, an expert in sociology, has urged government at all levels to ensure that workers enjoy living wage, as the engine of national development.
Suleiman, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, listed the benefits of a living wage for the economy and overall growth of Nigeria.
“I think we can solve this by seeing civil servants as the engine of national development. Civil servants are not hangers-on.
“And as studies upon studies have shown that the well taking care of civil servants is what will lead to development.
“So we are not talking of fair wages in sustainable development, we are talking of living wages.
“Meaning, a civil servant will not have to coerce the government to give him if he’s earning this and there is inflation.
“Living wages simply means the government should come up and make sure the inflation is not, if I should use this word, pauperising the civil servant.
“They should be well enough so that they will dedicate their time to the civil service.”
He explained the all-round effect of workers’ wages in a circular economy.
“Living wages are not for the civil servant; but are for the community. Why do I say they are for the community? Civil servants hardly save.
“If you pay a civil servant, what he is after is the food for him and his family, the market, the clothes he wears.
“So, the more you pay civil servants, the more it goes back to the economy. So, it’s not on them, it’s for Nigerians.
“The reason why I’m saying this; as a sustainable development person, the week of paying of salary, go to the market and see if you have space.
“Once that salary is paid, after a week you go to market, you see the marketers sitting. So, it’s not on them, they are putting back into the economy. It’s what we call in sustainable development, circular economy.
“An economy that is circular, that can withhold shocks and be robust enough for the development of the nation.
“So, I think in sustainable development, what we are trying to show to people is that salaries are not for civil servants alone. They are for everybody.
“Because you pay the civil servant, he goes to market to buy food. He is boosting agriculture. He buys clothing for himself, he is boosting industry. He pays school fees, he is boosting education.
“So, until we begin to see civil servants from this angle, then Nigerians will appreciate that paying living wages is not only for those civil servants, but it’s for Nigeria itself.”
Suleiman also harped on safe working conditions for civil servants.
“It can be achieved. Safe working condition has different aspects, it has the financial and it has the kind aspect.
“What do I mean by kind aspect? Their working places, is it healthy to work? The air conditioning, the water system, the lighting system, is there good transport for them to and fro their place of work?
“Because the way we are now, I don’t think an ordinary civil servant can afford to fuel his car if he has one to and fro.
“So, the government, when we say fair or living wages, are there transportation schemes for the civil servant?
“For instance, are their health taken care of? What of their pension? What of the health of their family? Those are what we mean by living wages.
“By law, I think in Nigeria, as a civil servant, you are not allowed to work anything other than farming of what you eat.
“So, if you hold somebody now, the payment, the remuneration, is it enough for that person to have peace of mind and give you the best?”
He advised that if workers’ welfare is prioritised, Nigeria would have a healthy and sound workforce to boost and strengthen institutions of government and the economy. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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