Salary Delays for Federal Workers: What You Need to Know

In a recent announcement, it has come to light that federal civil servants across 12 government ministries, departments, and agencies may experience delays in their salaries for the period from October to December 2024. This situation arises from the exhaustion of budgetary allocations for personnel costs, exacerbated by the recent implementation of a new minimum wage.

A communication from the Voice of Nigeria (VON) outlined that the delay is primarily due to the unplanned expenses associated with a 40 percent CONPSS Peculiar Allowance, which was not accounted for in the 2024 budget. The circular, issued by the Director of Finance, Jack Odeh, on October 22, 2024, specifically mentioned this issue as the root cause of the delay.

To address the funding shortfall, personnel costs for the last quarter of 2024 will be supplemented through the Service Wide Vote, leading to a slight postponement in salary payments. Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press at the Office of the Accountant-General, confirmed that this issue affects a limited number of MDAs, although he did not disclose their specific names.

The announcement explained, “Following the Federal Government’s implementation of the minimum wage in September 2024, and the absence of the 40 percent CONPSS Peculiar Allowance in the current budget, VON’s personnel budget has been depleted. Consequently, salaries for October to December 2024 will require augmentation from the Service Wide Vote.”

The management has advised staff and stakeholders to remain patient as the necessary approvals are obtained to resolve the situation.