SDP Chairman Gabam Urges Tinubu to Unify Civil Service Salaries

Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to standardize the salaries of civil servants across Nigeria’s federal agencies. Gabam voiced his concerns over the significant disparities in pay among civil servants, highlighting the injustices that arise from this uneven salary structure.

Speaking during the International Youth Day Celebration 2024 in Abuja, Gabam condemned the practice where some parents are forced to pay as much as ₦3,000,000 to secure jobs for their children in certain government agencies. He criticized the system that allows for such exploitation, especially after parents have invested heavily in their children’s education.

Gabam pointed out that while some civil servants in high-profile agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) enjoy lucrative salaries, others in equally important ministries, such as the Ministry of Information, are paid significantly less. He argued that this disparity creates a sense of superiority among employees in so-called “juicy” positions, fostering inequality within the civil service.

“There’s no greater disservice than this,” Gabam stated, urging President Tinubu to identify and reform these discrepancies. He emphasized that the government must ensure fairness by unifying salaries across all ministries and parastatals, so that no parent feels compelled to struggle for their child’s employment in specific agencies due to better pay.

Gabam further criticized the appointment of inexperienced individuals to ministerial positions, arguing that such practices undermine the effectiveness of the government. He stressed that the quality of leadership within a ministry should determine its success, not the perceived prestige of the office.

In conclusion, Gabam called for a comprehensive overhaul of the civil service salary structure to eliminate discrimination and promote equality among all government employees. He urged President Tinubu to take decisive action to ensure that every ministry becomes a “juicy” ministry, not just in terms of salary but also in terms of effective governance and leadership.