Federal civil servants in Ebonyi protest against alleged salary cut

Some federal civil servants in Ebonyi State working in the Information, Health and Justice ministries have protested against a reduction in their November salaries.

They said the cut was discovered when they received bank alerts this week.

The workers who decried the deductions, called on the Federal Government to reverse the decision as no official reason was given for the development.

One of the affected workers, Pastor Charles Egwu in an interview with The Guardian said the Federal Government has not fulfilled its pledge to provide palliative measures after the increase in the pump price of petroleum which led to hike in the cost of living.

“It is quite disheartening that government is deducting our salaries. The president promised to increase workers’ wages and provide palliative measures to reduce the effect of oil price increase which has affected the cost of living. But it is unfortunate that instead of increasing salaries it was being reduced.

‘’The deductions may dampen the morale of many people and it could encourage sharp malpractices among workers especially at this period when we are talking about fighting corruption,” he stated.

He said there is no justification for the action particularly as the nation is battling economic recession.

Another worker, Ndubuisi Olisakwe expressed disappointment over the issue.

“I am not happy about what is happening. For the government to further reduce our money even when we are complaining that what we are receiving as salaries cannot afford anything in the market is inhuman. I am particularly annoyed with the situation because the reduction should be for everybody, we should all receive equal pay.

“Why should a graduate be earning N60,000 in the Ministry of Information and others in other ministries are receiving far higher and you still deduct the little you are paying me?,” he queried.

A staff of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Mr. Okey Egba described the situation of Nigerian workers as pathetic and appealed to the Federal Government to reverse the decision and increase salaries in line with economic realities.