Federal workers grapple with gloomy Yuletide, face more hardship
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Federal civil servants are grappling with their inability to celebrate this Yuletide joyfully, caused by delay in the payment of their December salaries, which also happened in November, an uncertainty prevalent in the years of Muhammadu Buhari’s rule many thought they had put behind them in the new administration.
Most federal workers received their November salaries around the second week of December 2024.
Multiple civil service sources told The PUNCH that the fault came from the office of the federal Accountant General, others blamed it on the migration to a new payment platform.
“To be very honest, I am not travelling for the holidays this year because I don’t have the money,” said a civil servant, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to contravene civil service rules.
“Our November salaries came very late and by the time we were paid, a lot of us were already in debt. We felt things would be different this December but the reverse is the case.”
Another civil servant stressed that “There is nothing shocking about this new development because our November salaries came late. Some of us prepared ahead, even though it is not enough.
“The cost of food items has gone up, clothes for my children and all. Payment of the December salaries at the moment will really go a long way.”
An Assistant Director in federal agency outside Abuja, moaned that “This delay in salary payment is getting too much. It is Christmas and yet some of us can’t even buy meat talk less of getting chicken for our family members. The government needs to consider our welfare.”
Government explains reasons for salary payment delays
The government has explained that the recent delays in salary payment are cause by shortfalls in allocations to some ministries, department, and agencies (MDAs).
Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the federal Accountant General, disclosed that payments commenced on Monday and measures have been taken to address discrepancies.
“They have started paying since [Monday],” he stressed.
“Last month, some people didn’t get their salaries on time. Some ministries were having a shortfall. Yesterday [Monday], they paid all, and even the ones that had shortfalls, they ensured that they were augmented and paid. So, it now depends on the banks.
“When they started paying the new minimum wage, the money assigned for salaries to these ministries was affected by the minimum wage. So, that led to shortfalls for the ministries.
“That is what the government has addressed and augmented for all ministries to ensure that the salary was paid yesterday.”
Federal Accountant General Oluwatoyin Madein had earlier confirmed that salaries had been paid, but Mokwa clarified that the timing of funds reflecting in employees’ accounts would depend on individual banks.
“It varies from bank to bank on how it will drop, but they have been paid,” he said.
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