In a recent statement via his official X account, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has criticized a report by The Guardian regarding the Tinubu administration's recent wage increase for civil servants.
The Guardian allegedly interviewed civil servants in various parts of the country about the recent wage increase announced by a government agency.
However, according to Onanuga, The Guardian misrepresented the facts and asked the wrong questions.
"The Guardian totally got it wrong on Tinubu administration's wage increase.
The Guardian newspaper in its drive to destroy the image of the Tinubu administration asked civil servants in some parts of the country to comment on the recent wage increase announced by an agency of government.
Those interviewed in the straw poll, including state workers not on Federal pay roll, charged back to accuse the government of deceit. But the newspaper got its facts muddled up. It also asked the wrong question.
The press statement by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission was clear enough: The wage increase of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent applies only to Civil Servants on the six Consolidated Salary Structures. They are the civil servants on Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) and Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS). Others are: Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS). Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
The increase does not apply to all civil servants. And it is different from the minimum and living wage, being worked out by the Tripartite Committee.
I wonder why the Guardian editors deliberately misinterpreted the statement, if not in furtherance of the campaign of the newspaper group to sully the reputation of government. Newspapers are free to criticise government at all times, but it must be criticism based on facts," Onanuga stated.
Onanuga clarified that the wage increase, ranging from 25% to 35%, only applies to civil servants on specific salary structures.
Expressing his disappointment, Onanuga questioned the motives behind The Guardian's misinterpretation of the government's statement.
He suggested that it might be part of the newspaper's campaign to tarnish Tinubu led government reputation.