Buhari orders immediate payment of workers’ arrears

ASCSN commends gesture 
The Presidency has ordered the immediate disbursement of all salary arrears and allowance owed civil servants in the country.
Specifically, the directive instructed the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to compile the names of all public service employees who are being owed arrears of salaries and allowances within seven days, so that they can be paid without further delay.

In a circular ref no. HCSF/428/S.1/128 dated September 14th 2015 issued by the Presidency under the auspices of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), the Presidency emphasised the urgent need to compile the names of those being owed so as to pay them immediately.

Commending the gesture, the Secretary-General of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, (ASCSN) Alade Bashir Lawal, in a statement made available to The Guardian on Tuesday said the President has brought hope to thousands of public service employees who are being owed arrears of salaries and allowances for years.

According to him, the circular from the Presidency correctly identified the outstanding benefits as had been canvassed by the union to include: salary arrears, promotion arrears, 1st 28 days allowance on transfer from post, repatriation allowance, burial expenses, death benefits, and mandatory training of OHCSF in 2010.
Besides, the Presidency directed the MDAs to ensure that each unpaid entitlement should be accurate, verifiable and contain the name, designation, status, (serving or retired) and amount due to each officer.
“The correct information should reach the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on or before Monday September 21, 2015,” the circular emphasized.

Lawal recalled that in letters written to Mr. President since his election and assumption of office, the Union had reminded him of the outstanding salaries and allowances outlined above and stressed the need for government to pay up in order to boost the morale not only of the affected officers but also that of other teeming public service employees.

He expressed confidence that as soon as the list of affected officers are submitted to the Presidency, the lingering arrears of salaries and allowances would be paid so as to put the ugly situation behind and move forward.
The Union warned of dire consequences, which may include Trade Union actions if the MDAs decided to play politics with this Presidential directive.