Civil servants employed by the Federal Government are bracing for a subdued Christmas celebration due to delayed payment of December 2024 salaries.
The Bureau Newspaper gathered on Tuesday that federal workers experienced similar delays in November 2024, with most receiving their salaries during the second week of December.
Sources within the civil service attributed the delay to the migration to a new payment platform, while others pointed fingers at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
A visit to the Federal Secretariat by The Bureau Newspaper revealed widespread grievances among civil servants.
One worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to civil service rules, said, “Honestly, I am not traveling for the holidays this year because there’s no money. November salaries came very late, and by the time we were paid, many of us were already in debt. We hoped things would improve in December, but that hasn’t been the case.”
Another worker lamented, “This isn’t shocking after what happened last month. Some of us prepared ahead, but with the rising cost of food and clothing, it’s still not enough. Paying December salaries now would truly make a difference.”
An Assistant Director from a ministry outside Abuja added, “This delay is becoming unbearable. It’s Christmas, yet many of us can’t even afford basic necessities. The government must prioritize our welfare.”
Government’s Explanation
The Federal Government has attributed the delays to allocation shortfalls in some ministries and agencies.
Speaking to The Bureau Newspaper, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General, Mr. Bawa Mokwa, confirmed that salary payments began on Monday.
“Payments commenced yesterday,” Mokwa said, adding, “Last month, some ministries faced shortfalls. These issues have now been addressed, and all outstanding payments have been augmented and released.”
Mokwa explained that the implementation of the new minimum wage impacted salary allocations, causing discrepancies.
“When the new minimum wage was implemented, it affected the budgeted funds for salaries in some ministries, leading to shortfalls. The government has now resolved this and ensured all payments were made yesterday,” he said.
However, Mokwa noted that the time it takes for payments to reflect in individual accounts depends on the banks.
“It varies by bank, but payments have been made,” he reiterated.
Budget Constraints
The delays come against the backdrop of significant budgetary challenges. Earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu approved an increase in the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.
However, in January 2024, the National Assembly reduced the allocation for salary-related payments for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by 45%, slashing the proposed ₦1 trillion budget for public service wage adjustments to ₦550 billion.
To address the new wage structure, the Federal Government allocated ₦845.28 billion in the proposed 2025 budget under the Service-Wide Vote. This represents part of a broader plan to manage personnel and pension costs, which are expected to rise to ₦8.52 trillion in 2025.
The government also plans to spend ₦7.54 trillion on salaries alone next year, marking a 57.45% increase from the ₦4.79 trillion spent in 2024.
Mounting Expenses
An analysis of the 2025 Appropriation Bill shows that personnel and pension costs, combined with debt servicing, will consume a staggering 53.98% of the total ₦46.02 trillion budget.
As federal workers continue to await their December salaries, the delay has cast a shadow over what should be a festive season, with many calling on the government to ensure timely payment to alleviate their financial burdens.
