Civil Servants Perception of Minimum Wage Increase in Nigeria
The push for minimum wage increase in Nigeria is becoming more and more rampant. Consequently, this study uses qualitative and quantitative data gathered through a survey and structured interview among civil servants and public servants in Port Harcourt, Nigeria to analyze perceptions on minimum wage increase in the civil service. It considered the rationale for minimum wage increase and also if minimum wage is capable of improving the economic condition of civil servants, the advantages and disadvantages of minimum wage increase as viewed by civil servants. The findings suggest that civil servants believe minimum wage increase is a motivational tool for workers, since salary increase encourages workers to be more productive. Also the belief that minimum wage increase affects the economic condition of civil servants positively and economic growth is a prerequisite for minimum wage increase is a view shared by most civil servants. The major limitation was the lack of adequate information on the exact size and characteristics of the population. The relative small sample drawn from only the Federal and State Secretariats limit the extent of generalization of result as the opinion of civil servants in Nigeria generally.
