Federal workers have insisted that the Federal Government must seek a way of raising money to pay December salary.
They said they were already facing hardship and would not entertain further delays, especially at yuletide period.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Joint Union Congress and the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees told The PUNCH on Thursday that it would not be in the government’s interest not to pay the workers their wages.
The FG had, in a circular, advised civil servants to exercise caution in spending their November salary because of the possible delay in the payment of their remuneration for December.
The advisory was signed by Dr S. Adegoke in Abuja on behalf of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan.
Our correspondent had also reported that the Nigeria Police Force and about 20 MDAs have not been paid the November salary which was blamed on delays in fund processing by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
But reacting to the development in an interview with The PUNCH, the President, ASCSN, Dr Tommy Okon, said the government knew the implications of withholding workers’ salaries.
He cautioned against further delay in paying the salary, saying, “No sane government would be insensitive to the situation. Let them ensure that workers’ salaries are paid.
“I’m not sure the government meant what they said because they know the implications. That would not be in the interest of both government and workers.
“The government should do everything possible to ensure that salaries are paid to the workers because it is the season of giving and receiving and I think the government should not be insensitive to this very important season in a worker’s life because it has to do with families and extended families.”
Asked if he suspected that the FG was broke or insolvent, the union leader noted, “I wouldn’t say so, I’m not aware of what they have in their coffers. What I know is that the workers deserve their wages and they have to do everything possible to get it done.”
The Chairman, Joint Union Congress, Police Service Commission chapter, Adoyi Adoyi said the situation would put civil servants in a difficult situation.
He said, “We are asking that the government should avert such a situation because it would cause untold hardship on civil servants generally. At periods like this, there are several demands on public servants from families and extended families.
“Such a situation is going to hamper people’s movement and wellbeing. The Federal Government once borrowed pension funds to pay salaries. We wonder what the issue is that at this time, they are contemplating not paying salaries.”
A National Officer with the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Peter Onoja, stated, “Not paying salary is like adding insult to an injury. What we have is not enough to buy something and now you are depriving the people of their money. You are telling Nigerians to celebrate in sorrow.”
(PUNCH)
