Nigerian civil servants have voiced their dissatisfaction with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, citing recurrent delays in the payment of their salaries, wage awards, and other emoluments. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) expressed specific discontent over the persistent delays in the disbursement of monthly salaries to civil servants.
Tommy-Etim Okon, President of ASCSN, emphasized the importance of prompt salary payment, especially in the face of escalating living costs. He highlighted the adverse impact of delayed salaries on workers’ well-being and overall productivity, urging the government to demonstrate greater sensitivity to workers’ plights amid the country’s economic challenges.
Additionally, Olorunsuyi Ademola, the Branch Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at the National Mathematical Centre, emphasized the need for the government to address the high cost of living, exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and a depreciating exchange rate.
Evidently frustrated with the unfulfilled promises, Eric Haruna highlighted the negative repercussions of delayed salary payments on workers’ efficiency, underscoring the critical role of civil servants in government functionality.
The impact of these delays is palpable as Grace Ezekiel lamented her inability to meet essential financial obligations, such as her children’s school fees, due to the delayed salaries.
The sentiments were echoed by Ibrahim Alli, who expressed outright dismay at the continued delays, pointing to the substantial sums allocated to government entities.
Hauwa Sule criticized the unequal treatment of government workers, denouncing the selective payment of salaries.
In response to these accusations, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) attributed the delays in salary payments to discrepancies in the 2024 budgets of certain Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the government. The Director of Press at OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, assured that efforts were underway to reconcile these discrepancies and expedite the release of outstanding salaries.
This comes amidst the Revenue Allocation Committee’s announcement of a shared revenue of N1.13 trillion among the three tiers of government in December 2023, indicating a substantial increase from the previous month’s allocation.
The grievances expressed by Nigerian workers underscore the urgency for the government to honor its commitments, demonstrating greater sensitivity to the financial well-being of its workforce amidst economic adversities.
