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Tension over delay of federal workers December salary

Published

14 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Tension over delay of federal workers December salary

Civil servants under the employment of the Federal Government are facing gloomy Christmas celebration following the delay in payment of their December 2024 salaries.

Chronicle NG gathered that federal workers suffered delayed salaries in November 2024.

According to our sources, the majority of federal employees received their November 2024 salary in the second week of December.

Multiple public service sources informed Chronicle NG that the blame was with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, while others said the delay was due to the migration to a new payment platform.

Speaking of delayed salaries, our correspondent, who visited the Federal Secretariat on Tuesday morning, met with a few federal servants who expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation.

Speaking on the delayed salaries, our correspondent, who visited the Federal Secretariat on Tuesday morning, met with a few civil servants who expressed their grievances over the matter.

A civil servant, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said, “To be very honest, I am not travelling for the holidays this year because I don’t have the money. Our November salaries came very late, and by the time we were paid, a lot of us were already in debt. We felt things would be different this December, but the reverse is the case.”

Another civil servant, who also spoke under the condition of anonymity, revealed that, “There is nothing shocking about this new development because our November salaries came late. Some of us prepared ahead, even though it is not enough.

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“The cost of food items has gone up, clothes for my children, and all. Payment of the December salaries at the moment will really go a long way.”

However, the Federal Government has explained the reasons behind recent delays in salary payments to civil servants, attributing the issue to shortfalls in allocations to some ministries and agencies.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General, Mr. Bawa Mokwa, confirmed that payments commenced on Monday and that measures had been taken to address the discrepancies.

“They have started paying since yesterday,” Mokwa stated.

He further acknowledged the delays experienced last month, saying, “Last month, you will observe that some people didn’t get their salaries on time. Some ministries were having a shortfall. Yesterday, they paid all, and even the ones that had shortfalls, they ensured that they were augmented and paid. So, it now depends on the banks.”

Explaining the root of the problem, Mokwa noted that the implementation of the new minimum wage had affected the salary allocations for some ministries.

“When they started paying the new minimum wage, the money assigned for salaries to these ministries was affected by the minimum wage. So, that led to a shortfall for the ministries. That is what the government has addressed and augmented for all ministries to ensure that the salary was paid yesterday,” he explained.

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Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant-General of the Federation, confirmed that salaries had been paid.

However, the timing of funds reflecting in employees’ accounts would depend on individual banks.

“It varies from bank to bank on how it will drop, but they have been paid,” he said.

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved an increase in the minimum wage for Nigerian workers from N30,000 to N70,000.

In January this year, the National Assembly reduced the allocation for the minimum wage.

President Bola Tinubu first requested a budget of N1 trillion for MDAS’s Public Service Wage Adjustment (which included arrears of promotion and salary increases, as well as payment of severance benefits and minimum wage adjustments).

However, the approved budget by the National Assembly and signed by the president was significantly reduced to N550 billion for the same fiscal item, representing an N450 billion fall from the original amount.

Following the passage of a new minimum wage, the Federal Government stated that the N3 trillion recurrent component of the N6.2 trillion supplementary budget presented to the National Assembly will be primarily utilised to fund the new national minimum wage.

Tension over delay of federal workers December salary

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Jigawa State governor loses son 24 hours after mother’s death

Published

3 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi

Jigawa State governor loses son 24 hours after mother’s death

Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi has once again been plunged into mourning as his eldest son, Abdulwahab, died in an auto crash Thursday, December 26, 2024.

The news came just a day after the governor mourned the passing of his mother, Maryam Namadi, who died on Wednesday after a brief illness.

Abdulwahab was involved in a motor accident while returning from Kafin Hausa to Dutse with his friends.

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The vehicle he was driving lost control, causing it to somersault.

Some of his friends are currently receiving treatment at the Dutse General Hospital.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hamisu Gumel, confirmed the incident in a statement.

He said, “With a heavy heart, Governor Umar Namadi announces the passing of his beloved son, Abdulwahab Umar Namadi.

“The 24-year-old departed this world on Thursday, December 26, 2024, due to a ghastly motor accident along the Dutse-Kafin-Hausa Road.

“The burial rites are currently underway in Kafin Hausa town in accordance with Islamic traditions.”

Jigawa State governor loses son 24 hours after mother’s death

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Plateau killings: Troops arrest 20 suspects

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Plateau killings: Troops arrest 20 suspects

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have arrested 20 suspects in connection with the killings in Tingbwa Gidan Ado community of Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau.

Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Commander of OPSH, disclosed this at the Christmas luncheon organised for troops of OPSH and 3 Division of the Nigerian Army on Thursday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen on Dec. 22 attacked the community and killed 15 persons.

Abdulsalam, who is also the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, said its troops had also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.

“Following hours of sustained night operations, we have apprehended 20 suspects directly and indirectly involved in the last attack on Tingbwa Gidan Ado village in Riyom LGA on Dec. 22.

“We have also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, which has greatly starved criminal elements of the freedom of action to carry out their nefarious activities.

“Let the spirit of Christmas renew our commitment to the values we hold dear; let it inspire us to serve with even greater passion and determination,” he said.

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The commander thanked troops of OPSH and the 3rd Division for their sacrifices toward ensuring the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

“On this special day, I acknowledge and applaud the sacrifices you have made; many of you are far away from home, unable to celebrate Christmas and the yuletide season with family and loved ones.

“While others enjoy the warmth of family and comfort of home, you endure the realities of duty.

“Your courage and resilience would never go unnoticed as they embody the highest form of sacrifice.

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Five Gaza journalists die in Israeli strike

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Five Gaza journalists die in Israeli strike

At least five journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian TV channel reports.

They were reportedly in a Quds Today van parked outside al-Awda hospital, where the wife of one of the journalists was about to give birth, in the central Nuseirat refugee camp.

The channel posted a video of what it said was the burning vehicle with “press” signage on the back doors.

The Israeli Air Force said it had attacked “in a targeted manner and with intelligence guidance” a vehicle with members of the armed group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) inside. It added that measures had been taken to minimise civilian casualties.

Quds Today is linked with the PIJ faction, which participated in Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The unprecedented attack set off the war in Gaza.

In a related development, five individuals were reported dead in Israeli strikes on Gaza City on Wednesday.

The Palestinian Wafa news agency and the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry also reported that 20 more people were hurt in the city’s al-Zeitoun neighbourhood.

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The Israeli military has not responded to the purported bombing.

Meanwhile, the father of a two-week-old Palestinian girl has informed the BBC that his infant daughter died from frostbite in a tent in Gaza, becoming the third kid in a week to die in similar conditions.

Mahmoud Ismail Al-Faseeh stated he awoke in the bitter cold to find his daughter, Sila, having convulsions.

The head of paediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis told the Associated Press that she was rushed to the hospital but died of hypothermia.

The family was taking refuge in the al-Mawasi neighbourhood on Gaza’s coast, which the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) classified as a humanitarian zone but has been targeted by air attacks.

According to Ahmed al-Farra, the head of paediatrics, two more newborns, one three days old and the other a month old, were brought in within the last 48 hours after dying from hypothermia.

Hopes of progress towards a truce in recent days have begun to fade, with Hamas and Israel trading blame at each other.

Hamas accused Israel of setting “new conditions” that were delaying the agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu iistated that the organisation was violating previously agreed-upon understandings over a potential truce.

Following encouraging signs, both parties’ most recent pronouncements reflect a significant shift in tone.

Following last year’s Hamas onslaught, the Israeli military started air strikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The attack killed approximately 1,200 individuals, while another 251 were carried back to Gaza as hostages.

No fewer than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, Gaza’s health ministry says. Almost two million people—90% of the population—have been displaced, according to the UN.