In the shadow of the festive season, the corridors of many federal civil servants' homes echoed with a subdued Christmas spirit, as the delay in their December 2023 salary disbursement cast a pall over the usual festive fervor. According to Daily Trust, this financial hiccup spared only employees of revenue-centric bodies such as NNPC, NPA, NIMASA, NCC, CBN, and FIRS. "A step in the right direction": Obi lauds Tinubu for cutting interstate fares by half. Amidst this, the Tinubu government faces criticism for not disbursing December salaries in time for Christmas.
The impact of this delay rippled beyond the diminished holiday cheer, foreshadowing potential struggles in January when educational institutions reopen. A University of Abuja lecturer expressed his frustration unequivocally: "No justifications suffice. Post-subsidy removal, they pledged savings since June – a full half-year. Yet, timely salary payments remain elusive. My November pay arrived mid-December. With the holiday season, expectations for an earlier payment were dashed."
Contrastingly, a different employee recalled no such delays under prior administrations, highlighting a stark difference in experiences. Another academic voiced the emotional toll: "How can one find joy when the family's happiness is compromised during such a significant time?"
Mallam Bawa Mokwa, spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, acknowledged the government's struggle to disburse December salaries before Christmas. However, he assured that the process was underway. A senior government official attributed the delay to a technical issue, promising resolution and payment by Monday, December 25.
In a related development, Legit.ng reported a potential delay for approximately 5,000 civil servants due to discrepancies in employment and birth records. Tommy Okon, National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, mentioned collaboration with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to address these discrepancies.
Adding to the financial woes, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a staggering rise in Nigeria's annual inflation rate, hitting nearly an 18-year peak at 24.08% in July 2023. This surge from the previous month's 22.79% accompanies a sharp increase in food inflation, climbing to 26.98% from 25.25% last month.
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