The Federal Government has begun disbursing the delayed salaries for November 2024 to civil servants.
Sources informed The PUNCH that the delay was caused by disruptions linked to the ongoing transition from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.
This shift also temporarily affected the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, halting access to funds for various programs and projects.
The salary delay caused considerable distress among civil servants, many of whom were anxiously awaiting their pay amid the rising inflation and growing economic hardship.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics expressed their concerns through a letter to their members, highlighting the financial pressure caused by the delayed payments.
The national president of SSANIP, Philip Ogunsipe, underscored the importance of timely salary payments, especially in the current economic environment.
“Timely salary payments are not just essential, but critical for the sustenance of our members and their families,” Ogunsipe wrote. “This unwarranted delay has imposed severe financial hardships, further exacerbating the already difficult living conditions faced by Nigerian workers.”
The delay was attributed to the payroll transition within Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, moving from IPPIS to GIFMIS.
A senior director at the Federal Ministry of Defence confirmed that salaries were finally processed.
“The salary came in this morning after quite a number of days. Some of us were contemplating staying home because the delay had become too much,” he shared.
Similarly, a teacher at a government school also confirmed receiving her salary.
“I can confirm that my salary came in on Monday morning around 11 am. It took restraint on my part not to go borrow money, as we’re already in the second week of December. The government should always consider its workers in times like this,” she said.
