Salary Woes Persist: Federal Workers in 90 MDAs Yet to Receive January Payments

Federal civil servants in approximately 90 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are still awaiting their January salaries, according to reports by Daily Trust. The affected MDAs include key entities such as the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF), the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Ministry of Education, the National Population Commission, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and the Voice of Nigeria.

Workers from various MDAs, including the National Mathematics Centre in Abuja, expressed their dissatisfaction, highlighting the strain caused by the delay, especially given the current economic challenges with rising prices of essential commodities. The previous delay in December 2023 salaries, attributed to technical issues with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), has intensified concerns among the affected employees.

The current delay in January salary payments is attributed to a technical glitch on the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) platform, as stated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF). GIFMIS, designed to enhance transparency and accountability, has become a point of contention for workers facing financial hardships.

A memo from the National Mathematics Centre bursary department explained the delay, citing ongoing finalization of the 2024 appropriation on the GIFMIS platform by the OAGF. The memo acknowledged the inconvenience caused and extended the situation to all MDAs.

Workers in states like Ekiti and Katsina shared their concerns, emphasizing the impact on their daily lives and work schedules. The delay in salary payments has led to financial difficulties, affecting individuals who have loan obligations and essential expenses to meet.

The Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, acknowledged the issue, confirming that approximately 90 offices across MDAs were affected. He assured that many workers had started receiving their salaries, attributing the delay to the process of updating the 2024 budget.

Despite assurances, some workers, including those from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, voiced ongoing challenges in receiving their salaries. The situation has sparked concerns about the efficiency of government financial systems and the impact on the well-being of federal workers.