Civil servants in Nigeria under the Federal Government’s employment are grappling with delayed December salaries, forcing many to plan a subdued Christmas celebration. This follows a similar delay in November salaries, which were only disbursed in mid-December.
Multiple sources attribute the delay to operational challenges within the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Some point to the migration to a new payment platform, while others highlight shortfalls caused by the implementation of the recently increased minimum wage.
Speaking on the issue, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Accountant-General’s Office, Mr. Bawa Mokwa, confirmed that salary payments began on Monday. He attributed delays to shortfalls in allocations caused by adjustments for the new minimum wage.
“When they started paying the new minimum wage, the money assigned for salaries to these ministries was affected… that led to shortfalls. The government has now addressed this and augmented for all ministries to ensure salaries were paid,” Mokwa said.
Civil servants expressed their grievances, citing financial struggles and the rising cost of living. A worker lamented:
“I’m not traveling for the holidays because I don’t have the money. November salaries came very late, and by the time we were paid, many of us were already in debt.”
Another worker added, “This delay is getting too much. It’s Christmas, and yet we can’t even afford basic items like meat or chicken for our families.”
The delay highlights the strain on Nigeria’s financial system following the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in July 2024. The National Assembly’s decision to reduce budgetary allocations for salaries and minimum wage adjustments by 45% further exacerbated the issue.
In the 2025 budget, the Federal Government allocated ₦845.28 billion to address minimum wage adjustments, with personnel costs expected to surge by 60% compared to 2024.
As the government works to streamline its payment processes, federal workers are left grappling with the economic realities of delayed salaries during the holiday season. The situation underscores the importance of addressing budgetary inefficiencies to ensure timely payments in the future.
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