Because the world celebrates Christmas as we speak, some Nigerian civil servants have urged the Federal Authorities to pay arrears of the N35,000 wage award it promised staff.
The civil servants, who spoke to the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, additionally suggested the Federal Authorities all the time to endeavour to pay their December salaries earlier than Christmas.
NAN stories that President Bola Tinubu, shortly after asserting the elimination of the petrol subsidy, promised to provide an N35,000 wage award to federal authorities staff.
In accordance with Tinubu, the concept was to assist the employees cushion transport prices amid the rising value of meals and different commodities.
Nonetheless, NAN’s findings revealed that the wage award was paid just for September.
In accordance with Mr 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 a part of our month-to-month price range, however we’ve got solely been paid for September.
“That is one thing that the Federal Authorities initiated by itself. The President will do nicely to make sure that the wage award is restored and the arrears paid, particularly within the festive season,” he mentioned.
Mr Isa Ahmed, one other civil servant, additionally expressed disappointment on the federal authorities’s failure to proceed paying the N35,000 wage award.
Isa additionally complained that the delay in cost of December salaries was not useful to the employees.
“Non-public sector organisations and a few state governments normally pay December salaries earlier than Christmas.
”Many even pay Thirteenth-month wage bonus to allow their staff to have fun Christmas simply. Why is it troublesome for the federal authorities to do one thing comparable?
“I hope the President will take into account paying the three months’ arrears of the N35,000 wage award and the December wage.
“This may go an extended technique to alleviate the current financial hardship,” he mentioned.
The Commerce Union Congress (TUC) lately warned of dire penalties if the federal government stopped the cost of the wage award.
Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, the TUC Nationwide President, mentioned that the federal authorities should fulfil its obligations to pay the N35,000.
In accordance with him, the federal authorities accredited a wage award of N35,000 to staff in its payroll efficient Sept. 1.
“The one for the month of September 2023 was paid within the month of November 2023,” he mentioned.
He appealed to the federal authorities to begin cost of the excellent arrears of October and November.
Additionally, the Federal Staff Discussion board (FWF) expressed concern that the N35,000 wage award might have been stopped.
In an announcement, the Nationwide Coordinator of FWF, Mr Andrew Emelieze, mentioned that the employees are passing via tortuous moments for the reason that elimination of gas subsidy.
“Federal authorities staff nationwide have been going via tortuous moments for the reason that elimination of petroleum subsidy.
“Our take-home pay has been made meaningless because of the rising value of dwelling and the fixed devaluation of the Naira.
“Salaries have remained the identical whereas costs of products and companies have tripled inside this era.
“Minimal wage has remained at N30,000 month-to-month whereas costs of every thing proceed to soar,” he mentioned.
He additionally referred to as on the Federal Authorities to pay the arrears of the wage award as a matter of urgency.
