The Federal Government has moved to harmonize the salaries of its workers in a bid to address long-standing disparities across different grade levels and salary structures in the public service.

This development follows persistent complaints about uneven pay among civil servants on similar grades and the ongoing implementation of consequential adjustments arising from the National Minimum Wage Act, which raised the minimum wage to ₦70,000.

A committee earlier set up by the government had agreed percentage increases under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS): higher adjustments for lower grades (up to about 80% for levels 01–06) and more modest ones for senior levels. The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) was tasked with developing uniform templates for other consolidated salary structures to promote equity.

Officials have repeatedly stressed the need to bridge dichotomies in pay so that no sector is treated as more important than another, while workers’ groups continue to push for fuller implementation of adjustments and further reviews amid rising living costs.

The harmonization is expected to bring greater consistency to federal workers’ take-home pay once the new templates and adjustments are fully rolled out.

The Federal Ministry of Works, Anambra State Field Headquarters has officially announced the closure of the First Niger Bridge in Onitsha for the commencement of repair works.

An official press release by the Federal Ministry Of Works, Anambra State Field Headquarters, which was signed by the State Controller, Mr Timothy Emenike, stated that the bridge would be closed for two weeks, starting from Monday 7 September 2026 , and the emergency maintenance works are expected to be completed by Monday, 21st September 2026.

In view of the nature and urgency of the intervention, motorists and other road users are hereby advised and directed to use the Second Niger Bridge route through Obosi towards Asaba, Delta State and other destinations beyond, throughout the closure period.

About 37 persons have reportedly died after inhaling fumes from a petroleum product at a jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred on Thursday at the Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area, where youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities had reportedly gathered to load a petroleum product from an illegal tapping point

Many others were said to be missing following the incident, which occurred in the mainly coastal community.

A source in the community told our reporter that more than 100 persons had stormed the jetty with locally made boats while a vessel was anchored at the riverside to load petroleum products.

The source said trouble started while the youths were loading the product, as a strong smell suddenly saturated the air, causing several of them to collapse.

“Many of them collapsed into the river, while others who managed to escape the scene had serious respiratory disorders and were being treated at the hospital.

“As I speak to you, over 37 bodies were identified as Okrika people, while six others were yet to be identified and many are still missing,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

(PUNCH)