Federal Govt MDAs’ salaries to be delayed

Federal civil servants in 12 government ministries, departments, and agencies may encounter delays in receiving their salaries between October and December 2024, findings by The PUNCH showed.

This delay is attributed to the exhaustion of the budget for personnel costs by the agencies, a situation prompted by the recent approval of the new minimum wage.

A notice sent to public servants working with the Voice of Nigeria disclosed the new information.

The circular issued by the Director of Finance for Director-General, Jack Odeh, on October 22, 2024, titled “Notice of Delay in October 2024 Salary,” explained that the delay was caused by the payment of the 40 per cent CONPSS Peculiar Allowance which was not initially included in the 2024 budget.

It further stated that personnel costs from the month of October to December 2024 will be augmented from the Service Wide Vote, hence a slight delay in the payment of salaries.

However, the Director of Press at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, said the issue in question had an impact on not more than 12 MDAs, though he did not provide the specific names of entities involved.

The notice read, “Consequent to the Federal Government implementation of the minimum wage in September 2024, and the non-inclusion of the 40 per cent CONPSS Peculiar Allowance in the 2024 budget, the Voice of Nigeria personnel budget has been exhausted.

“VON’s personnel cost from the month of October to December 2024 will therefore have to be augmented from the Service Wide Vote. We regret to inform the staff and management that there will be a slight delay in the payment of salaries for the period of October to December 2024.

“This is due to the ongoing process of augmentation, which requires necessary approvals from relevant authorities for VON and other ministries, departments and agencies involved. Please take note.”

Members of staff who spoke to our correspondent confirmed the situation.

A VON reporter confirmed that a circular was sent that salaries for the next three months will be delayed.

The staff said, “Yes, we are affected. We got a circular that our salaries for October, November and December are going to be delayed, but they didn’t give any tangible explanation.”

Another staff with the News Agency of Nigeria said the issue is true, though some persons have started receiving their salaries.

The staff said, “I haven’t seen my salary but I was informed by our colleagues that they have started paying. It lingered but they have started paying.

“My colleague even informed me that they haven’t paid the new minimum wage. There has been fluctuation since this administration started, unlike past administrations.”

Commenting on the development, Bawa said the issue has been resolved and affected civil servants will start receiving their salaries from today (Thursday).

He said, “That issue is already solved. The affected civil servants will get their salaries. We have taken care of it. For this month, any ministry that hasn’t got will get it from today. They will be paid. I don’t know precisely but they cannot be more than 12 MDAs.”

He also refuted claims that the salary delay will happen till the end of this year.

“No, it won’t be till the end of this year. We have resolved it,” he stressed.