Showdown Looms: Labor Clashes with FG Over Unpaid Salaries

Indications have emerged that the shortfalls in the salary of the federal civil servants that became prominent during the January payment may have continued in February as Labour leaders engage the Federal Government to find solution to the anomalies.

TrackNews Media gathered that some of the Federal Government workers who received the February salary had reported the continuation of underpayments that, in December 2024, were blamed on a “systematic error” in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

Some of the affected workers, who spoke to Newsmen on condition of anonymity, accused the government of making life difficult for them in the midst of the hyperinflation ravaging the country.

They appeal to the government to resolve the matter immediately, saying this underpayment or short payment or whatever name it is called, started in December and became pronounced in January. It has regrettably remained unresolved this February as some of us who have received our salaries have also noticed the shortchange in our salaries. What sort of punishment is this?

Reacting to the situation, the President of Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial Secretariat, Data Processors and Allied Workers, NUPSRAW, and Treasurer of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JPSNC, Roselyn Anarah, said: “The National Joint Public Service Negotiating Council has written in that regard and also got a feedback from the government side that something is being done about that. I have not seen my salary and no complaints yet from any member of my union. Though we all receive the same salary, the leadership of the Union will act as it gets complaints from workers.”

Earlier, the National Chairman of the JPSNC from the Labour side, Mr. Benjamin Anthony, had assured federal workers that the government was working to correct discrepancies in January salaries, which were reportedly lower than previous months. The shortfalls affecting some federal civil service workers were attributed to a “systematic error” in the IPPIS.

He noted that the council received complaints from workers about reductions in their January salaries compared to what they received from October to December 2024, explaining that the IPPIS error might have likely been caused by a systematic mistake from the computers, which was currently being addressed.

According to him: “To resolve the issue, the JPSNC has issued a memo to all industrial unions to gather details from affected members, escalated the issue to the Federal Government for correction, and received assurance from the Head of Service of the Federation that the complaint will be forwarded to the Accountant-General’s office for investigation.”

Anthony urged affected workers to formally report the discrepancies through their industrial unions and to verify their expected earnings before raising concerns.

He also noted that part of the problems might be linked to the peculiar allowance negotiated by the council, which the government had agreed to continue paying but appears to have been omitted by the IPPIS system.

The JPSNC chairman expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved promptly, and affected workers will receive their correct salaries.