Federal civil servants may soon have cause to smile as the Federal Government has assured that it will soon release the sum of N10 billion for the settlement of unpaid salary arrears and allowances of public servants in the country.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, gave the assurance after a meeting with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udo Udoma, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita.
Ngige said the meeting was part of the efforts of the Federal Government to clear all arrears such as outstanding allowances on promotion, twenty-eight days relocation, repatriation, training, burial expenses and death benefits to public servants.
He said that government’s decision was anchored on a clear understanding that clearing these arrears forms part of the palliative measures being taken to cushion the harsh economic realities on public servants.
He said further that the meeting was in furtherance to the directive of the Federal Executive Council held on May 24, 2017, adding that since the Federal Executive Council decision, the office of the Accountant General of the Federation was already processing the sum of N10 billion for the payment of promotion arrears with modalities for payment being worked out to make sure that wrong persons are not paid this first olive-waving step of the Federal Government.
He also said that a disbursement of the sum of N14.6 billion had earlier been done in early 2017 to take care of the salary arrears arising from the shortfalls in the 2016 budget.
Also in today’s meeting were the Director General of the Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabuze; Mrs. Batagarawa, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Head of Service who represented Mrs. Oyo-Ita; and the representative of the Minister of Finance
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria had earlier issued a 14-day strike notice on the Federal Government over the issue. The ultimatum ended on May 30, 2017.
The Minister of Labour and Employment has been engaged in marathon meetings with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress led by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the Nigerian Labour Congress led by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in the last one week on the issue.
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