12 Nigerian states owe their workers at least one month’s salary as of July 2022

The organization in its empirical survey across the 36 states of the federation expressed displeasure over certain state governments’ refusal to pay the monthly salaries accruable to civil service workers in their states as and when due.

BudgIT, a civic-tech organization on advocacy for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance, has revealed that at least 12 states owe their workers at least one month’s salary as of July 28, 2022.

BudgIT conducted this empirical survey to spotlight and identify state governments that have consistently failed to meet the essential requirement of governance and employee compensation, thereby subjecting their workers to unpaid labor and harsh living conditions.

While speaking about the current realities of affected workers, Iniobong User, BudgIT’s Head of Research and Policy Advisory, noted that civil servants’ remuneration, whether at the state or federal level – as and when due – is a necessary part of the employer/employee relationship. This affects the smooth working of the government. This is not only because the survival and livelihood of civil servants depend on timely salary payment but also because the government’s refusal to pay smacks of the disregard for the legal obligation to pay.

“Nigerian civil servants are unfortunately no strangers to delays and gaps in monthly salary payments. Despite belonging to the executive implementing arm of the government, they have been left without payments in many instances. With several states guilty of this non-payment, civil servants are often at wit’s end at ‘month end’,” he added.