The Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday said it was aware of the protest by the staff of the ministry over what it described as “an unofficial allowance totalling N1.2 billion”.
In a statement, the ministry stated as follows:
- The payment of what the protesting staff called a Special Overtime (SOT), was stopped by the last administration in 2014 on the ground that it was not listed in any extant government Circular, Financial Regulations or the Public Service Rules;
- The sum of N1.2 billion computed by the staff union for payment could not have been budgeted for in 2016 in the first place, not only because of the paucity of funds, but also the fact that the SOT allowance was not part of the remuneration in the Federal Public Service; and
iii. The Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, do not individually or collectively, owe any of their personnel their salaries.
In view of the foregone, the Management of the Federal Ministry of Finance wishes to categorically state that the protests have no justifiable grounds”, the statement added.
The press statement followed events on Monday when civil servants at the Federal Ministry of Finance shut down the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja and prevented the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, from entering her office following a protest to demand the payment of N1.2 billion unpaid allowance.
The workers in their hundreds expressed disappointment over the non payment of the entitlements due to them, adding that except their demands are met, they would not stop the protest.
They locked all the entrances to the ministry and prevented vehicles and other visitors from gaining access to the premises.
They alleged that unlike in the past where they were entitled to overtime allowances, training and other welfare packages, such were no longer forthcoming.
They also alleged that the Minister told them that she was appointed by the President for a specific assignment and not for the staff.
One of the protesting workers who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said, “Things have not been going on well at the ministry, overtime had not been paid to us as well as other entitlements.
“A lot of people in this ministry are not happy because of poor staff welfare condition and that is the reason why we have all come out to protest for the world to know what has been going on in this ministry.”
Some are not even been paid their salaries, and here are some over fed civil servants asking for overtime! Overtime ko, under time ni. Mtcheeew