It’s quite peculiar to witness the ovation and praise given to leaders in Nigeria for pledging to fulfil their duty of paying citizens their salaries on time. In all honesty, this should be the bare minimum expectation as responsible individuals ought to compensate their employees promptly.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko, conveyed the governor’s commitment to ensuring civil servants in the state receive their monthly salaries on or before the 28th day of each month. This directive came after a meeting between the governor, the Accountant General, and other senior officials.
During his inauguration speech on May 29, Governor Otti assured the people of Abia that civil servants’ salaries would be settled no later than the 28th day of every month under his administration. He expressed dissatisfaction with the differentiation between “core” and “non-core” civil servants and emphasized that from June 2023 onwards, all salary and pension obligations would be met by the designated date.
Governor Otti aims to transform the Abia State Civil Service during his tenure. To uncover “ghost workers” and identify genuine employees versus those involved in embezzlement, the state government will embrace technology. This technological integration intends to strengthen the Civil Service by prioritizing merit and retaining diligent individuals in the workforce.
It is disheartening that numerous state governors in Nigeria deliberately withhold salaries, leaving hardworking citizens to suffer needlessly despite their gainful employment. Consequently, citizens are compelled to take to the streets in protest, debating an issue that should never be up for discussion.
And what about the pension predicament? Regrettably, it is even worse. Many government employees dread retirement due to the reluctance of most state governments to honor their pension commitments. This deplorable state of affairs allows state governors to comfortably shirk their responsibility.
This perpetual cycle raises the question of when it will ever cease. As one set of leaders passes the baton to the next, the same patterns persist, leaving us to ponder the elusive end to this recurring dilemma.
