‘Workers celebrating in hunger’ — PDP hits FG over December salaries delay

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the non-payment of December salaries of several workers.

As of December 29, some workers in federal ministries, agencies and departments confirmed to TheCable that they were yet to receive their salaries.

In a statement on Saturday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said the development is “insensitive and unacceptable”.

Ologunagba said Tinubu’s administration has turned the country into a “huge internally displaced persons (IDP) camp with millions of Nigerians becoming beggars and observing the period in hunger, anguish and misery”.

“It is obvious that the non-payment of the December salary critically needed by the workers including our gallant security operatives at this period is consistent with the atrocious character of APC administration to weaponize poverty and further suppress Nigerians to surrender to totalitarianism,” the statement reads.

“Is it not provocative that while President Tinubu is busy partying and luxuriating with APC leaders, workers who are putting in their time and energy in the service of the nation are left with nothing to feed and celebrate with their families and loved ones?”

The PDP described the situation as a “heartless act by the anti-people APC administration”, saying it “never happened in the 16 years of the PDP in government”.

The major opposition party said the development “further confirms that the Tinubu-led APC administration has practically run our nation’s economy aground”.

TECHNICAL GLITCH IN NOVEMBER

TheCable had, on December 5, reported that the November salaries of several federal workers were delayed.

Bawa Mokwa, director of press at the office of the accountant-general of the federation, had said the delay was due to a “glitch”.

Mokwa said the integrated personnel and payroll information system (IPPIS) unit, which is responsible for the payment, had technical issues.

“It was a glitch and it has been settled today. All errors have also been corrected,” he had said.

DISCREPANCIES IN RELEVANT INFORMATION

On November 22, Tommy Okon, national president, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN), said over 5,000 federal civil servants may not receive their December salaries.

Okon had said the affected workers are those with discrepancies in their dates of first appointment and birth.

He said the names of the affected workers had been forwarded to their directors of human resources for confirmation.