Federal civil servants in Nigeria are experiencing subdued Christmas celebrations as the delay in payment of December 2024 salaries adds to financial challenges already worsened by late November wages.
Findings reveal that most federal workers received their November salaries in the second week of December, creating financial strain. Sources attribute the delay to issues within the Accountant-General’s office and the migration to a new payment platform.
A visit to the Federal Secretariat on Tuesday revealed frustration among civil servants.
A staff member, speaking anonymously, said, “I won’t travel this year because I’m financially constrained. By the time we got November salaries, many of us were already in debt.”
Another worker noted, “The cost of living is high, and the delay in salaries is affecting holiday plans. Payment now would mean a lot.”
An Assistant Director lamented, “The delay is too much. It’s Christmas, and many can’t even afford basic needs. The government must prioritize our welfare.”
In response, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Accountant-General’s Office, Mr. Bawa Mokwa, confirmed payments began on Monday. He cited discrepancies caused by shortfalls in allocations to ministries, compounded by adjustments for the recently implemented minimum wage.
“Last month, some ministries faced shortfalls due to the new minimum wage implementation. These have been addressed, and payments started yesterday,” Mokwa said.
President Bola Tinubu approved an increase in the minimum wage to N70,000 in July 2024. However, the 2024 budget’s reduction in wage-related allocations by 45% has strained personnel payments, leading to delays.
Looking ahead, the 2025 budget allocates N845.28 billion for minimum wage adjustments, part of broader personnel and pension costs projected to reach N8.52 trillion. This marks a significant increase from 2024 but highlights ongoing fiscal challenges, with debt servicing expected to exceed salary payments next year.
