TheNewsGuru

Tag: Salary

  • Just in: Team Ogun, block venues of ongoing National Sports Festival over unpaid allowances

    Just in: Team Ogun, block venues of ongoing National Sports Festival over unpaid allowances

    Athletes representing Ogun State at the ongoing National Sports Festival have launched a protest over the non-payment of their allowances, disrupting scheduled events and barricading access to key competition venues in Ogun State.

    According to a post shared on Facebook by Patrick Omorodion, a source close to the festival, the protesting athletes obstructed the entrance of the Games Village situated at Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo.

    “Team Ogun athletes are protesting non payment of allowances and blocked the entrance of the Games Village at Babcock University at Ilishan-Remo.

    This may jeopardize the events of this morning as athletes are locked from proceeding to competition venues at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Kuto and the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja. Most hit are the cycling contingent whose events are supposed to start at 8am.”

    He further added that the protest could throw the day’s lineup of events into disarray.

    The source also described the situation as a major embarrassment for the host state.

    “Shame as Team Ogun athletes block gate to Games Village at Babcock University over non payment of their allowance by Ogun State government. Athletes who have events this morning are now stranded.”

    This is coming barely four days after the media reported that Nigerian athletes competing in the 10,000m final at the ongoing Sports Festival were forced to run in darkness after the floodlights at the newly renovated MKO Abiola Stadium suddenly went off mid-race.

    A video obtained captured the chaotic moment when the stadium lights failed, plunging the track and field into near-total darkness while athletes struggled to continue the race.

    A journalist who witnessed the incident described the scene as “shameful” and “dangerous.”

    “Stadium lights went off during the 10,000m final at the National Sports Festival.

    Athletes were forced to run in the dark. This is unacceptable in 2025,” the journalist said.

    “Those responsible must be held accountable — such negligence has no place at the National Sports Festival.”

  • I remit 40 percent of my salary to PDP – Senator

    I remit 40 percent of my salary to PDP – Senator

    A federal lawmaker, Sen. Garba Maidoki (PDP–Kebbi), has revealed he remits 40 percent of his salary to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Maidoki disclosed this in an interview with NAN on Friday in Abuja reacting to the defection of several PDP members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He described the political shift as “unfortunate,” warning that a one-party system was unhealthy for democracy.

    “A strong opposition is essential to keep the government in check and ensure the right actions and corrections are made.

    “But what we’re seeing today is a mass drift toward the APC, largely because the PDP has failed to put its house in order,” he said.

    Representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Maidoki lamented the recurring crises within the PDP and expressed concern over the party’s ability to organise a national convention.

    “Our governors, who should be stabilising forces, appear indifferent. As senators, we don’t have the resources to keep the party together.

    “I remit 40 per cent of my salary to the PDP national headquarters, but that’s a drop in the ocean compared to what’s needed to run the party,” he said.

    Maidoki warned that if party leaders failed to take responsibility, the PDP might not survive as a viable political force in the near future.

    “We hope it’s not too late to get our act together. It’s in Nigeria’s interest,” he added.

    When asked if he intended to defect, Maidoki stressed that his focus was on national interest rather than personal gain.

    “For me, being a senator is not the goal, it’s a means to a goal. My objective is to help make Nigeria work, especially for the next generation.

    “Unfortunately, many politicians are more concerned with the next election than delivering meaningful results during their term,” he said.

    Maidoki emphasised that he was more focused on performance than political survival.

    “I’m not thinking about the next election. I’m thinking about what I can deliver before then. If I can make a difference, even a small one, that’s enough for me.”

    He also revealed that he previously rejected a committee chairmanship in sports, citing the need to focus on issues that impacted governance more directly.

    “Our problem isn’t laws, we have enough laws. The problem is implementation. If I can contribute to ensuring compliance and accountability, I’ll consider that a worthy achievement,” he said.

  • Pay our December salary, no more excuses – IAR&T workers to FG

    Pay our December salary, no more excuses – IAR&T workers to FG

    Employees of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, on Monday,  embarked on a protest to demand the payment of their December 2024 salary.

    The workers locked the entrance gate of the institute preventing any vehicle from gaining access to the institute’s premises.

    Speaking to NAN, Mr Michael Agbaje, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), IAR&T branch, said that the congress resolved that their predicament should be made known to the Federal Government.

    Agbaje said that it was sad that workers of the institute had not been paid their 2024 December salary, which had thrown them into serious problem.

    ‘The protest will not stop except we get our 2024 December salary.

    “We are passing a message to the federal government through IAR&T management, we don’t expect them to sit back here, but to go to Abuja to fasttrack the payment.

    “We have information that the payment is at the level of cash backing and approval at the Accountant-General’s office and we appeal that the Accountant-General do the needful,” he said

    Also speaking, Mr Osadiya Adewumi, Chairman of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), IAR&T branch, expressed worry that the payment was taking longer than expected waiting for the approval of the Accountant-General.

    Adewumi said that the promised they early received was that the 2024 December salary would be paid alongside the 2025 March salary, but that did not happen and only March salary was paid.

    “We expect the IAR&T Director to go to Abuja and not sit back in Ibadan.

    “We are suspecting a foul play, which is that the Director’s tenure will terminate by April ending and she wants to leave the problem for another person to inherit.

    “She must ensure the payment of our money before leaving office,” he said.

    Adewumi further alleged the director of paying Christmas bonus to selected workers and neglected others.

    Mr Momoh Ismail, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospital Research Institute and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), said they are tired of excuses from the IAR&T management.

    Ismail said that the union had done everything possible to ensure payment of the 2024 December salary, noting that the non-payment was truly an omission, but should have been rectified.

    In her reaction, the IAR&T Director, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, said the omission affected not only IAR&T, but also eight other institutions.

    According to her, she had travelled severally to Abuja to ensure the payment.

    Obatolu said that she was surprised that workers were accusing her of not doing enough to ensure payment of their 2024 December salary, adding that the non-payment also affected her salary too.

    She said that she had been monitoring the process of payment in Abuja until last week Friday and she does not have to travel everytime.

    The director said that the money was ready for payment as at now.

    On the allegation of not paying Christmas bonus to all workers, the Director said that only junor workers from level one to six were paid due to paucity of fund.

    NAN

  • JUST IN: Tinubu approves salary increase for Military Personnel

    JUST IN: Tinubu approves salary increase for Military Personnel

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a salary increment for members of Nigeria’s armed forces.

    Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, disclosed this on Friday in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike.

    The government also approved the payment of three months’ salary arrears.

    Additionally, he has released funds to clear outstanding pensions and entitlements owed to retired military personnel.

    The minister confirmed that alerts for the three-month salary increase have begun reaching military personnel, signalling a significant morale boost for the armed forces.

    He lauded Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to both serving and retired members of the military, emphasising that addressing pension arrears for retirees remains a priority.

    “Despite initial setbacks, be rest assured that the President will do everything within his power to uplift our military forces as they confront the challenges of insecurity,” he stated.

  • Zamfara health workers vow to shut down specialist hospital over salary irregularities

    Zamfara health workers vow to shut down specialist hospital over salary irregularities

    The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals, Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, are demanding the Zamfara State Government, to immediately commence the payment of their six-month salary arrears from the adjusted CONHESS or face industrial action.

    They made the call while briefing Journalists about the arrears from June to November 2024 and the pending promotion which they want the State Government to implement.

    The Branch Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, Comrade Sani Rabi’u said the union is also demanding proper implementation of allowances such as status, call to duty and hazard allowance arising from thirty thousand minimum.

    The Joint Health Unions said they have observed that there are some irregularities in the payment of salaries for October and November 2024 which included grade reduction, step reduction, and wrong salary scale placement.

    We observed that the CONHESS adjustment implementation that began in October 2024 salary was not properly implemented for Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital Gusau staff which include status allowances (among others) which the staff have to enjoy since the inception of the hospital.”

    “We also observed some irregularities on the salary (October & November 2024) which include; Grade level reduction, Steps reduction, Wrong salary scale placement, from instead of CONHESS.”

    These lead to a remarkable reduction of salary from the majority of our members instead of increment. This action caused many experienced staff to resign from the hospital Several complaints were made to the appropriate authorities through writing, visitations and meetings with the assurance to correct the anomalies in November 2024 salary, but to our dismay, the complaints were not resolved.”

  • GOOD NEWS! FG approves salary increase for civil servants

    GOOD NEWS! FG approves salary increase for civil servants

    The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25% and 35% in salary Increase for Civil Servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures

    The Salary Structure are Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and
    Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated
    Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).

    It will be recalled that those in the Tertiary Education and Health Sectors had already received their increases which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS)
    for Universities.

    For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involved the
    Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS).

    The Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical
    Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).

    A statement signed by the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Emmanuel Njoku said the increases take effect from 1st January 2024.

    The Federal Government has also approved increases In pension of between 20% and 28% for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme in
    respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from 1st January 2024

  • CARTOON OF THE DAY: War against miserable salary

    CARTOON OF THE DAY: War against miserable salary

  • Bleak Christmas for Federal workers as ’emilokan’ admin fails to pay December salaries

    Bleak Christmas for Federal workers as ’emilokan’ admin fails to pay December salaries

    It was a bleak Christmas for Federal civil servants across Nigeria as ’emilokan’ administration failed to pay December 2023 salaries.

    The federal civil servants who bitterly complained to whoever bothered to ask said on Christmas ‘shishi’ no gum us to celebrate Christmas.

    A probe into this development by a national medium revealed that all the workers in federal ministries, some in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF), and others in Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) said the development was unexpected.

    It was learnt that the situation was the same with federal universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and associated federal institutions all over the country.

    Sources said only workers in revenue generating agencies like NNPC, NPA, NIMASA, NCC, CBN, FIRS, among many others got their salaries for December.

    In separate interviews the distraught workers lamented the inability of the government to pay their salaries, especially in the Christmas celebration season.

    “Despite the general misgivings about previous administrations, I cannot remember anytime our December salaries were delayed,” one of the workers said.

    “With the way things are ‘tough’ in the country, we don’t even have savings. We were excited when they announced a 50 per cent discount on transportation, but sadly despite the support many people could not travel ahead of Christmas.

    “How can we travel and enjoy the so called 50 per cent transport reduction, when we don’t have monies in our pockets?” another civil servant asked.

  • Subsidy removal: Covenant University increases workers’ salary by 20%

    Subsidy removal: Covenant University increases workers’ salary by 20%

    The Board of Regents, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, has approved 20 per cent salary increase for all the staff of the institution.

    Prof. Abiodun Adebayo, Vice-Chancellor of the Institution, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Ota.

    Adebayo said the decision by the Board to implement the salary increase was to cushion the adverse effect of the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to a rise in inflation in the country.

    “The VC appreciated the Board of Regents of the University, led by the Chancellor, Dr. David  Oyedepo, in making such a compassionate decision to alleviate the harsh economic situation of the country for the University’s workforce,” he said.

    According to Adedayo, the salary increase will take effect from September to boost the morale and commitment of the Faculty and Staff of the University.

    He added that this has also engendered a fresh drive and vigour in the pursuit of its vision of raising a new generation of leaders and the actualisation of its newly unfolded Vision 7-2030 agenda.

  • FCT workers speak out against alleged salary cut by Wike

    FCT workers speak out against alleged salary cut by Wike

    The Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) say workers have nothing against the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, over alleged salary cut.

    JUAC President, Mr Matilukuro Oluwakorede stated this in Abuja on Saturday, while reacting to a social media publication alleging that, “workers in Nigeria Capital, Abuja groan as Wike cuts salaries, allowances amid inflation”.

    Olyuwakorede said, “The public should disregard the information in circulation. it is not emanating from us. We have an internal issue; we had a meeting and agreed on the best way to manage the issue.

    “We have nothing to do with what is trending online currently.

    “We love our minister. We don’t have any issue against him as at this moment that I am talking to you, and I wish to be quoted anywhere.”

    On the issue of the salary, he explained that JUAC had fought for some allowances, adding however, that the allowances were not budgeted for in the 2023 budget.

    He identified the allowances as peculiar allowance, hazard allowance and “one or two other allowances like that.”

    He explained that the allowances overshot FCTA and FCDA personnel budget, adding that in view of the development, the FCTA management called the leadership of the committee over the challenge.

    He added that they all agreed at the meeting, that the remaining funds in the vault should be used to pay October salary but may affect peculiar allowances.

    “We realised that the little fund remaining may affect peculiar allowance, and we say we don’t mind stepping it down by one month, while the FCT Administration does the needful against the remaining months.

    “So that by November, we return to normalcy. So, I don’t know why journalists are just cashing out on this.

    “But I wish to say unequivocally, that we don’t have any problem with our distinguished honourable minister or the minister of state or even the permanent secretary of FCTA.

    “We are in good relationship and this decision that we have taken, is for the best interest of staff generally,” the president said.

    JUAC leadership had on Friday issued a circular, signed by its President and General Secretary, Mr Akuh Sunday, intimating their members on salary shortfall for October.

    JUAC explained in the circular that FCTA and FCDA that management had asked the committee to sensitise all staff on the inability to pay salary of all staff in the months of October.

    The development, it said, was because FCTA personal budget vote has been exhausted following the payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, hazard allowance and other allowances.

    The committee, however, noted that the payment of the allowance in some Departments, Secretariat and Agencies were not budgeted for.

    “In view of the above, JUAC insisted that instead of not paying salary at all in October, management should handle the matter in this manner.

    “First, the October salary be paid without the peculiar allowance which is what the current personnel cost vote can carry.

    “Secondly, between now and November, virement will be made to transfer funds from other votes to beef up the personnel cost vote to enable management to pay November Salary in full.

    “In addition, the arrears for the peculiar allowance of October will be paid in November alongside the arrears for the N35,000 wage award.

    “JUAC agreed to these terms because it believes that this is the best bargain and decision that it could take in the best interest of the entire staff of FCTA and FCDA, given the current situation we have found ourselves,” JUAC had said in the circular.

    NAN