Tommy Okon, the esteemed national president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has brought to light a concerning issue affecting more than 5,000 federal civil servants, potentially jeopardizing their receipt of the December salary.
Okon, during a press briefing in Abuja, disclosed that this group of workers is grappling with discrepancies in their dates of first appointment and dates of birth.
“Undoubtedly, this revelation raises questions about the seamless functioning of administrative processes within the federal civil service.”
Okon reassured the public that the ASCSN is actively collaborating with the head of civil service of the federation to expedite a resolution to this intricate problem.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that these discrepancies have disrupted the salary flow since September 2023.
To address the issue comprehensively, Okon shared that the names of the affected workers have been diligently forwarded to their directors of human resources for meticulous confirmation.
The meticulousness of this process becomes evident in the physical verification exercise undergone by around 17,000 core civil servants, who were delisted from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in October 2023.
“While a commendable number of 2,772 workers have successfully completed their online and physical verification exercises, leading to their seamless reinstatement to the federal government’s payroll, a significant challenge persists.”
The 5,000 civil servants still grappling with discrepancies in their crucial records face a delay in the restoration of their monthly salary.
Okon, displaying his commitment to resolving this predicament, urged the affected workers to exercise patience as the union tirelessly collaborates with relevant authorities.
He highlighted the ongoing efforts of six dedicated teams working assiduously to ensure the swift completion of the verification exercise.
The ASCSN President emphasized the importance of public servants staying informed by regularly checking the Head of Service (HOS) website for updates.
He provided insight into the intricate timeline of salary reinstatement, acknowledging that the salary for November 2023 has been concluded.
However, the concerted efforts of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOSF) aim to ensure that those cleared receive their salaries for December 2023, inclusive of arrears dating back to September.
In a plea to the federal government, Okon urged expedited actions to guarantee that the December salary of civil servants involved in various exercises to be reinstated into the IPPIS is not subjected to unnecessary delays.
The multifaceted nature of this issue underscores the need for a prompt and comprehensive resolution to safeguard the financial well-being of these dedicated public servants.
