Federal workers allege pay slash

…Arbitrary cuts in November salaries

…Pension, tax, NHF deductions increased

…‘Action insensitive’

…We have not embarked on arbitrary deductions, says AGF

Federal civil servants in the country have expressed shock at the slashing of their wages, which they only got to know about through the alerts they received from their banks for their November salaries.

This development has not go down well with the workers, who expressed displeasure over the incident they claim occurred without prior warning.

Some aggrieved staff members wondered why the federal government had to reduce their salaries at a time they were expecting an increase in their wages due to the recession being experienced in the country, which has resulted in general increase in prices of goods and services.

Reports say the deductions vary based on workers grade levels and steps across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

However, Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, has denied the allegation, saying that he was not aware of any deductions as the government did not authorize any form of deductions.

However, an internal memorandum spotted in one of the agencies of the federal government, suggest otherwise, as it was revealed that deductions from staff salaries, which were based on consolidated salary structure would henceforth be based on gross salaries, effective November, 2016.

The document further revealed that the deductions would be in three categories, including tax, pension and National Housing Fund (NHF). One of the affected civil servants, who craved anonymity, described the situation as gross insensitivity on the part of government, saying, “Whether directly or indirectly; this is tax increase, the federal government is not just stopping at tax. Pensions and NHF deductions are now being increased.

Already, what we called take-home pay was not taking us home, yet, this government has come up with another disturbing action. It is sad,” she stressed.

Various staff members of government agencies, who spoke to The Daily Times at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, decried the illegal deductions in their November salary. Many of them, who expressed concern over the issue on condition of anonymity, said that the money deducted from their salary was very unusual, but declined to disclose the exact amount as they queried angrily, “go and ask the Minister of Finance,” while others were asking, “is this part of the change President (Muhammadu) Buhari promised the civil servants in Nigeria?”

Findings revealed that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Public Complaints Commission, were, last month, under lock and key as a result of payment of half salaries, while many others joined in November.

While some were said to record as high as 50 per cent cuts, others could not ascertain how much they had been shortchanged. Speaking on grounds of anonymity, a staff of Voice of Nigeria (VON) lamented that they only learnt of the salary cut when an internal memo dated November 30, 2016 was made available to them on Wednesday.

The memo signed by the HOF and addressed to all staff and titled: ‘Reduction in November 2016 Salary,’ stated that “we received the payroll report for the month of November 2016 from IPPIS and observed there is a drastic reduction in the net pay of Voice of Nigeria staff,” blamed the deductions on tax, pensions and national housing funds, which were all formerly based on consolidated fund but had all affected staff gross salaries for November, 2016. A Level 14 cadre officer, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said “when I got the alert, I could not figure what was wrong, I just realised that my salary was short with over N10, 000.

I wonder what those on level 7/8 will go home with at this time.” She lamented that this is so sad, stressing, “At a time we are crying for increase, how can they be slashing? Things are so expensive and it’s most worrisome to have the little we have be toyed with.” Another staff of the Ministry of Justice said she got her alert on November 29 and realised a deduction of over N40, 000 was made. “I don’t understand what is happening,” she lamented. At the time of filing this report, it was gathered that a staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Kaduna slumped and died upon hearing of the slash in salaries. It is not known if the said deceased staff had health challenges before his unfortunate and sudden demise.

The affected workers have therefore called on the AGF to immediately look into the matter, even as they called out to President Buhari for help. Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Idris, has however, said no arbitrary deductions were made. He said, “Talking about salary, as far as my office is concerned, we have not embarked on arbitrary deduction of salaries of personnel of government. If there is any specific issue, the office or agencies affected should come forward and give reason why there is a deduction in their payroll and pay slips,” he said, adding that all government agencies will be audited soon.