President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate payment of the N30,000 minimum wage to federal civil servants.

It is said that the order came amidst plans by labour to declare another industrial strike.

Only civil servants whose salaries fall below the minimum wage would earn the new wage, Buhari said.

The President signed the new minimum wage bill which was earlier passed by the National Assembly into law in April and was expected to take effect from Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Richard Egbule disclosed this while addressing a news conference on the implementation of the new national minimum wage on Tuesday in Abuja.

He further disclosed that the commencement of the approved payment would be determined by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and backdated to when the President signed the agreement.

Egbule revealed that the approval takes effect from April 18, 2018 and will affect the salary of government agencies under five salary structures.

This include the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).

Also, the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS II) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) would be affected.

“The negotiations between the Federal Government and the joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage for officers who earn above N30,000 would continue.

“The outcome of such negotiations will be implemented with effect from the date an agreement is reached,” he said.

Egbule assured the public that the Federal Government was totally committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage as agreed with key stakeholders.

He said that any enquiry relating to the implementation of the new minimum wage should be directed to the commission.