Tension Rises As FG Stops Payment of N35,000 Wage Award, NLC Threatens Strike

• FG under President Tinubu, faces a potential showdown with labour unions over the alleged non-sustenance of the N35,000 wage award, a move that could lead to strike action
• Reacting, the head of information at the NLC, Benson Upah, described the government’s failure as “dishonorable”
• Despite assurances from the Accountant General of the Federation, that plans are underway to disburse the wage awards, workers remain skeptical and demand swift resolution

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements

FCT, Abuja – Workers in the Federal Civil Service have expressed dissatisfaction as the government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reportedly failed to continue the payment of the N35,000 wage award, which was initially introduced in response to the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The wage award agreed upon in May 2023, was only paid for September, leading to growing discontent among civil servants

Recall that Tinubu following the fuel subsidy removal, agreed to pay N35,000 to federal civil servants under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure.

The government, in a memo signed by the chairman, National Salaries Wages and Income Commission, Ekpo Nta, stated that the payment of the wage award would begin to take effect from September 1, 2023.

However, recent findings indicated that the government only paid the wage award for September as disclosed by senior civil servants in the core ministries, departments and agencies.

Reacting, the Head of information at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Benson Upah in an interview with The Punch on Monday, December 11, said:

“This betrays the government’s dishonorable intentions and is completely unacceptable.”

When asked if the NLC would take action, he said:

“Certainly, the Congress will do something about this but what it will do will be dependent on the appropriate organs of the Congress. On communication with the government, sure, we will. It usually precedes our actions.”

Speaking with The Punch in Abuja on Monday, the spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, allayed the fears of civil servants.

Mokwa noted that plans were ongoing to ensure that civil servants receive their wage awards.

“The process is ongoing. They will be paid. The process to pay the wage awards has commenced.”

FG begins payment of workers’ withheld salaries

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu’s-led federal government has commenced the payment of the November salaries of civil servants.

The workers whose salaries were initially withheld by the FG due to “technical glitches” and discrepancies on the platform of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) have now started receiving credit alerts of November salaries.

Several senior civil servants confirmed the development to The Punch newspaper in Abuja on Wednesday, December 6.

FG to pay N-Power 9-month arrears

Also, Legit.ng reported earlier that some participants in the federal government’s N-Power program expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing postponement of their monthly stipend disbursements amounting to N30,000.

The beneficiaries emphasised that the persistent delays in receiving their N30,000 monthly stipends were causing increasing unease and frustration.

The program’s enrollees were experiencing delays despite the federal government’s earlier announcement that it would commence payment of the 9-month backlog.

Source: Legit.ng