The Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, says the Federal Government is committed to the prompt payment of the N35,000 wage arrears to government workers.
Madein disclosed this in an interview with newsmen, on Wednesday, in Abuja, saying inadequate revenue and contending government expenditure have resulted in some delay.
According to her, the federal government was initiating moves to mobilize enough revenue to meet its commitment to all Nigerians, including the workers.
“The N35,000 wage award is to go on for six months, until a new national minimum wage is agreed upon, and the government is committed to meeting that obligation.
“But the limited nature of government revenue and contending issues requiring attention caused some delay. We cannot leave monthly salaries and prioritize the wage award,” she said.
She said that as government revenue continues to improve, it will meet its commitments to all Nigerians, including the workers.
The award was paid only in September and October 2023.
Some civil servants urged the Federal Government to pay outstanding arrears of the wage award for November and December, 2023 and endeavour to pay subsequent ones alongside the monthly salaries.
According to Simon Ali, a civil servant, the stoppage of the N35,000 wage award has created confusion.
“Most of us have accommodated this wage award of N35,000 as part of our monthly budget, but we have only been paid for September.
“This is something that the Federal Government initiated by itself. The President will do well to ensure that the wage award is restored and the arrears paid, especially in the festive season,” he said.
Isa Ahmed, another civil servant, also expressed disappointment at the failure of the federal government to continue with payment of the N35,000 wage award.
“I hope that the President will consider paying the two months arrears of the N35,000 wage award along with the January salary.
“This will go a long way to alleviate the present economic hardship,” he said.
The Trade Union Congress, TUC, recently warned of dire consequences, if the government stopped the payment of the wage award.
Mohammed Ibrahim, the TUC National President, said that the Federal Government must fulfill its obligations to pay the N35,000.
He appealed to the Federal Government to commence payment of the outstanding arrears m immediately.
Also, the Federal Workers Forum, FWF, expressed concern that the N35,000 wage award may have been stopped.
The National Coordinator of FWF, Andrew Emelieze, in a statement, said that the workers are passing through tortuous moments since the removal of fuel subsidy.
“Federal government workers nationwide have been going through tortuous moments since the removal of petroleum subsidy.
“Our take home pay has been made meaningless as a result of the rising cost of living and the constant devaluation of the Naira.
“Salaries have remained the same while prices of goods and services have tripled within this period.
“Minimum wage has remained at N30,000 monthly while prices of everything continue to soar,” he said.
He also called on the Federal Government to pay the arrears of the wage award as a matter of urgency.
(NAN)
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Hope you are all aware that it was just September wage award that was paid to colleges of education?
The government of Asiwaju is not sincere. Did they tell workers that they will be using the revenue to be paying salary award. Did the legislators and top government officials waiting for the revenue before they got what they got. The Tinubu lacks direction and focus
The said wage award was only paid once…
So for people that said they paid for two Months, then I must say that it didn’t reach the account of the Military and Paramilitary or are they excluded from the list of Federal workers?
abdullahi.shuaiibu@gmail.com
Why why why should we suffer like a thief in our own country what have we done first, was 17000 worked forcefully sent to Abuja from all over the country without transportation what is all this!!!