FG staff face gloomy Christmas over delayed Dec salaries

Civil servants working within the federal authorities are dealing with a low-key Christmas celebrations following delays of their December 2024 wage funds.

PUNCH additionally realized that federal workers suffered delayed salaries in November 2024.

Our reporters’ findings revealed that the majority federal staff obtained their November 2024 salaries in the course of the second week of December.

A number of sources throughout the civil service advised The PUNCH that the error got here from the Workplace of the Accountant-Normal of the Federation whereas different sources indicated that the delay was a results of the transition to a brand new fee platform.

Talking about delayed salaries, our correspondent, who visited the Federal Secretariat on Tuesday morning, met with a variety of authorities workers who expressed their grievances in regards to the matter.

“To be very sincere, I will not be touring for the vacations this 12 months as a result of I haven’t got the cash,” mentioned one authorities worker, who spoke on situation of anonymity out of respect for civil service guidelines. “Our November salaries got here very late, and by the point we obtained our salaries, Many people have been already in debt and felt that issues could be completely different subsequent December, however the reverse is true.”

One other authorities worker, who additionally spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned: “There’s nothing surprising on this new growth as our November salaries have come late. A few of us have ready upfront, though it isn’t sufficient. Costs of meals and garments for my youngsters have gone up.” And every thing, paying December salaries proper now would actually go a good distance.

“This delay in wage funds has develop into an excessive amount of,” mentioned an assistant director at a medical growth company outdoors Abuja. “It’s Christmas and but a few of us can’t even purchase meat, not to mention purchase rooster for our members of the family. The federal government should take motion.” Contemplating our well-being.”

Nonetheless, the federal authorities defined the explanations behind the current delay in paying salaries to civil servants, attributing the issue to a scarcity of allocations to some ministries and companies.

Talking with PUNCH on Tuesday, the Director of Press and Public Relations within the Workplace of the Accountant-Normal, Mr Bawa Mokwa, confirmed that funds started on Monday and that measures had been taken to deal with the discrepancies.

“They began paying since yesterday,” Mokwa mentioned.

He additionally acknowledged the delays skilled final month, saying: “Final month, you’ll discover that some folks didn’t get their salaries on time. Some ministries are affected by a scarcity. Yesterday they paid every thing, and even when there was a scarcity, they made positive to extend it and pay it. So, it now will depend on the banks.”

Explaining the roots of the issue, Mokwa famous that the implementation of the brand new minimal wage had affected wage allocations to some ministries.

“After they began paying the brand new minimal wage, the cash allotted to the salaries of those ministries was affected by the minimal wage. Which led to a deficit in ministries. He defined that that is what the federal government addressed and elevated it to all ministries to make sure the disbursement of the wage yesterday.

The Accountant Normal of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madin, additionally confirmed throughout an earlier occasion that salaries had been paid.

Nonetheless, Mokwa added that the timing of the funds showing in worker accounts will rely on particular person banks.

“It varies from financial institution to financial institution on how low it goes, however they have been paid,” he mentioned.

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu authorized a rise within the minimal wage for Nigerian staff from 30,000 naira to 70,000 naira.

Earlier in January this 12 months, the Nationwide Meeting diminished minimal wage allocations and salary-related funds to ministries, departments and companies by 45 % within the authorized 2024 price range.

President Bola Tinubu initially proposed a N1 trillion price range to regulate public service wages for the MDAS program (together with promotion arrears, wage will increase, severance pay and minimal wage changes).

Nonetheless, the price range authorized by the Nationwide Meeting and signed by the President was a big discount to N550 billion for a similar fiscal merchandise, indicating a lower of N450 billion from the proposed quantity.

Following the approval of the brand new minimal wage, the Federal Authorities mentioned the N3tn recurring component within the N6.2tn supplementary price range submitted to the Nationwide Meeting will largely be used to deal with the brand new nationwide minimal wage.

Within the proposed 2025 price range, the federal authorities has allotted N845.28 billion to deal with minimal wage-related changes following the current improve of the minimal wage to N70,000.

The allocation is a part of the service stage vote detailed within the 2025 Price range, which was offered to the Nationwide Meeting by President Bola Tinubu.

PUNCH reported earlier that the federal authorities had indicated that its spending on workers prices would improve by no less than 60 % in 2025.

She mentioned this was as a result of implementation of the brand new nationwide minimal wage and subsequent changes for all federal civil service cadres.

In keeping with the 2025-2027 Medium Time period Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Technique Paper, about N4.1 trillion as workers expenditure is included within the 2024 price range; Due to this fact, the 60 % improve means a further 2.46 trillion naira and a complete quantity of 6.56 trillion naira.

PUNCH additionally reported that the federal authorities plans to spend N8.52 trillion (together with authorities establishments) on workers prices and pensions for federal staff subsequent 12 months.

An evaluation of the 2025 Appropriations Invoice confirmed that this quantity represents a rise of three.17 trillion naira or 59.16 % over the 2024 allocation of 5.35 trillion naira.

The doc additionally confirmed that authorities expenditure on wage fee alone will attain 7.54 trillion naira, representing a rise of two.75 trillion naira from the 4.79 trillion naira paid to federal staff in 2024.

Employees and pension prices of N8.52 trillion and debt servicing price of N16.33 trillion represent a complete of N24.85 trillion, equal to 53.98 % of the overall 2025 price range of N46.02 trillion.

It was additionally famous that the federal government will spend extra on servicing the debt than it’s going to spend on paying the salaries and pensions of its staff.