The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the payment of delayed November 2024 salaries to civil servants, following a disruption caused by the transition from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
This delay had significant repercussions, affecting various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by temporarily restricting their access to funds necessary for ongoing programs and projects.
The salary delay exacerbated financial distress among civil servants, who were already grappling with rising inflation and economic hardship. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) expressed grave concerns over the situation.
In a letter to its members, SSANIP's national president, Philip Ogunsipe, emphasized the critical nature of timely salary payments. "Timely salary payments are not just essential, but critical for the sustenance of our members and their families," Ogunsipe stated. "This unwarranted delay has imposed severe financial hardships, further exacerbating the already difficult living conditions faced by Nigerian workers."
The transition between payroll systems particularly impacted Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, as noted by the union. However, relief came on December 11th, 2024, when confirmations of salary payments were reported.
A senior director in the Federal Ministry of Defence confirmed, "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."
Similarly, a teacher at a government school shared her experience, saying, "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."
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