The Federal Government has started paying the delayed November 2024 salaries to civil servants, following disruptions linked to the migration from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
The transition between these two payroll systems led to significant delays in salary disbursements, affecting various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The delay not only impacted salary payments but also temporarily disrupted access to funds for several government programs and projects. This created widespread distress among civil servants, many of whom are already grappling with rising inflation and economic hardship.
Civil servants across the country expressed frustration over the delayed payments, with many eagerly awaiting their salaries to meet personal expenses in the face of the current economic challenges. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) issued a letter to its members, highlighting the financial strain caused by the delay in salary payments.
SSANIP’s national president, Philip Ogunsipe, emphasized the critical importance of timely salary disbursements in sustaining workers and their families. “Timely salary payments are not just essential, but critical for the sustenance of our members and their families,” Ogunsipe wrote. “This unwarranted delay has imposed severe financial hardships, further exacerbating the already difficult living conditions faced by Nigerian workers.”
The union attributed the delay to the ongoing transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. While the migration aims to streamline financial management, the process has led to significant disruptions for government employees.
A senior official in the Federal Ministry of Defence confirmed the salary payments had been processed, stating, “The salary came in this morning after quite a number of days. Some of us were contemplating staying home because the delay had become too much.”
A teacher in a government school also confirmed receiving her salary after the delay. “I can confirm that my salary came in on Monday morning around 11 am,” she said. “It took restraint on my part not to go borrow money, as we’re already in the second week of December. The government should always consider its workers in times like this.”
While the delayed payments have caused significant inconvenience and hardship, the resumption of salary disbursements brings some relief to civil servants, though concerns about future delays remain.
