President Jonathan Owes Aides Six Months Salaries!


President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to pay his aides salaries six months after he hired them. Those affected are chief of staff, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal assistants.

A senior government official told LEADERSHIP last night that initially, the non-payment of the salaries was affected by the inability of the aides to finish the documentation of their appointments and later the dispute between the federal and the state governments over the monthly federal allocation.

It was also gathered that, civil servants have continued to express worry over the delay in the payment of their staff salaries. It was learnt that by the 25th of every month, salaries of government employees in the ministries, departments and agency were usually ready, but most workers have continued to express dismay over the delay in the payment of their salaries, especially as there was also a delay in payment of September salary. As at press time, workers' salaries were yet to be paid.

In March 2011, President Jonathan signed the Minimum Wage Bill into law after its passage by the National Assembly. The new law also states that private sector employers with more than 50 employees must pay workers the new wage.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had before the elections in April, threaten to withhold workers' votes, unless the minimum wage law was signed and paid to workers. But the organised labour later backed down from its threats when it went ahead to allow its members to vote during the April elections.

LEADERSHIP investigation can confirm that the N18,000 minimum wage is yet to be paid to any worker in federal ministries, departments and agencies(MDAs) till date. Instead, what the least paid civil servants have been receiving remains the N17,000 approved by President Jonathan upon inception of his administration last year.

In the same vein, the salary structure of all other categories of federal employees remains the same without any increment. Until this salary adjustment was done, the least paid worker went home with a paltry N7,500.

An employee of the Federal Ministry of Health, who spoke with LEADERSHIP under condition of anonymity, condemned the development and likened it to the growing culture of impunity in the Nigerian society.

He said: "What can we do? If the federal government says they will pay N18,000 and up till now we have not seen any increase in our salary, who do you complain to, are we to take them to court?

But I want to tell you that we are not happy. Even though the least paid worker now, as of today, earns N17,000, we expect the federal government to honour the promise by paying the N18,000 it promised. Although, it is just a matter of adding a few hundreds to our salary to make it N18,000, still, we want it. Even though it is still not everything but it is something. If you go to the market, things are so expensive based on this new minimum wage of N18,000 but we are yet to receive it,"

When contacted for his comment on the development, acting Secretary-General of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Owei Lakemfa, denied knowledge of the situation. He said, " We are yet to get any complain from our members in the public sector. We are surprised that the Federal Government is not paying the N18,000 minimum wage. In July, the organised labour signed an agreement that this would be done, and at the end, a circular was issued to all our members. That is the instrument of implementation of the minimum wage.

The minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, had in an interactive session with the media recently declared that the new minimum wage had become a law, adding that failure to pay the new rate to workers in the public or private sector was unconstitutional and a violation of the law.

When LEADERSHIP visited the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for clarification on the delay in payment of N18,000 minimum wage to federal workers, spokesperson of AGF's office, Hassan Timon Dodo, said government regretted the delay and was working round the clock to offset the payment in all the MDAs.

He said: "Government is finalising plans to commence payment of the minimum wage soonest. When these plans have been concluded, payment would immediately commence in all ministries, department, and agencies (MDAs) in uniform manner, without any disparity," he said.

Our investigation further revealed that employers in the private sector are also adamant with the N18,000 minimum wage. This is even as most private sector employers with well over 50 staff strength are not complying with the new wages law.

For instance, those employed in private security outfits, gatemen, street sweepers, gardeners, among other categories of unskilled workers continue to earn far below the N18,000 prescribed by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate of accounting who works in one of the top private security guard firms in Abuja (names withheld), lamented his plight as an employee of the security sub-sector. He said despite the new minimum wage law, his employer still pays him and other secondary school leavers as low as N10,000 monthly. But efforts to get the owner of the firm to comment failed.

But when contacted, a very liable source in the presidency disclosed to LEADERSHIP that the payment of minimum wage had since commenced at the time the President declared it. He however, stated that before the actual declaration by the president, federal workers were being paid about N17,000 plus.

The source also stated that Jonathan's approval of N18,000 only gave way for the addition of N1,000 to the already paid N17,000 plus to make it N18,000. Though, our source claimed not to know the actual amount of money added to the N17,000 plus, he added that the appropriate information could only be supplied by the Salaries and Wages Commission.

Further investigation by LEADERSHIP regarding the non- payment of Minimum Wage revealed that federal workers have not been paid as at Friday October 28, a development described by which many workers who were interviewed by our correspondents as quite unusual.

The source also revealed that the payment of October salaries for federal workers which has been delayed has been cleared for payment, saying that workers would be getting their salaries as from today

http://allafrica.com/stories/201110310922.html

So the Fed Govt if breaking the very law it created?

Can the Govt not be sued for the minimum payment of 18k back dated to when it became law?

If the Fed Govt doesn't abide the the laws of the land, then why should Nigerians?

Now we know why the Federal Government insists on increasing the price of petrol - they have run out of cash !

This is yet another example of desperation. The garbled article is best ignored by intelligent people; I wonder who actually thinks these things up? They must be quite dull indeed.

In what universe are the chief of staff, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal assistants paid the minimum wage?!

^ Have you been paid yet? Lets get first hand info from you.

President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to pay his aides salaries six months after he hired them. Those affected are [size=18pt]chief of staff, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal assistants.[/size]

Is this a joke?

^
Retardinho always has a way of setting new records. What a vulture!

Mr. Globe:

Have you been paid yet? Lets get first hand info from you.

You wonder why the dolt is running amok and causing unwanted disarray to the peaceful existance of this board. No salary for the dullard. He was below expectation.

Beaf:

In what universe are the chief of staff, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal assistants paid the minimum wage?!

what about the ones they have been stealing. Paying them doesnt matter. i think its high time Nigeria subjects her politicians to minimum wage. let us start it.

Ileke-IdI:

Is this a joke?

The Retardeen's way of cutting cost.

Thiefs! <= @LL of them.

There is no difference btw JEG aides and the thousands of civil servants being denied their salaries and pension on a regular basis, so let them be patient. What goes round,comes around.

Beaf:

This is yet another example of desperation. The garbled article is best ignored by intelligent people; I wonder who actually thinks these things up? They must be quite dull indeed.

In what universe are the chief of staff, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal assistants paid the minimum wage?!

you are doing a great job. Much better than reuben abati and ima niboro combined. Wil you b 'free' by 2015? I want to employ you 2 be my spokesman when i become the governor of my state in 4yrs time

I don't believe its true

God bless Nigeria

Beaf:

This is yet another example of desperation. The garbled article is best ignored by intelligent people; I wonder who actually thinks these things up? They must be quite dull indeed.

In what universe are the chief of staff, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal assistants paid the minimum wage?!

Where does the article tell you that those you mentioned above are included in the minimum wage category? What is written below makes it obvious that the minimum wage talk applies to workers in Federal ministries departments and agencies (MDAs). Besides, an investigation by LEADERSHIP journalist cannot be written off as "garbled" just because you say so. We know you would even call BBC, Reuters and CNN as junk news agencies if they were to ever write anything uncomplementary about GEJ. The second quote supplied below makes it clear that the Government , through the spokesperson of the Accountant-General) acknowledges the problem so please give up your attempt to attack the messenger rather than deal with the message.

LEADERSHIP investigation can confirm that the N18,000 minimum wage is yet to be paid to any worker in federal ministries, departments and agencies(MDAs) till date. Instead, what the least paid civil servants have been receiving remains the N17,000 approved by President Jonathan upon inception of his administration last year.

In the same vein, the salary structure of all other categories of federal employees remains the same without any increment. Until this salary adjustment was done, the least paid worker went home with a paltry N7,500.

When LEADERSHIP visited the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for clarification on the delay in payment of N18,000 minimum wage to federal workers, spokesperson of AGF's office, Hassan Timon Dodo, said government regretted the delay and was working round the clock to offset the payment in all the MDAs.

He said: "Government is finalising plans to commence payment of the minimum wage soonest. When these plans have been concluded, payment would immediately commence in all ministries, department, and agencies (MDAs) in uniform manner, without any disparity," he said.

lol

When contacted for his comment on the development, acting Secretary-General of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Owei Lakemfa, denied knowledge of the situation. He said, " We are yet to get any complain from our members in the public sector. We are surprised that the Federal Government is not paying the N18,000 minimum wage.

This is so funny, so you are not aware of the plight of the pple you fought for, you don't live in Nig, u don't listen to the news, they Nig. workers have to come to ur house to complain b/4 u take action. what a pathethic country!

The minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, had in an interactive session with the media recently declared that the new minimum wage had become a law, adding that failure to pay the new rate to workers in the public or private sector was unconstitutional and a violation of the law.

So sir, what is the consequences of the violation of the law, how many years in prison do they get? yes so we can start prosecuting those that break the law.

what have we gain from president aides and servants than corruption.

If you ask me, Retardinho and his entire staff does not deserve any salaries. Paid for doing what for goodness sake!!!

I hope GEJ incliudes the salary of  Reno Omokri (Special Asst to the Nigerian President on New Media) .

Are they the first people to be owed?what is their job sef? People have and are being owed for only God knows how long in this country,yet these ones want to start making noise because of six months(in which they must have stolen money 50 times bigger than the said salary sef).they should relax and enjoy the taste of their own pudding,after all they are his advisers.
   I remember how I lost a year of school at special science school due to non payment of teacher's salaries,let these men\women respect themselves and be quiet o.


By the way,how are we even sure this story is true sef?no be all of dem dey join hand thief the money?abi GEJ wan start to dey chop alone? Ah wahala dey o.

emmatok:

I hope GEJ incliudes the salary of  Reno Omokri (Special Asst to the Nigerian President on New Media) .

Omokri is paid from a special 'yafun-yafun' account. So no worries over his 'wages'.

I seriously doubt that this is true. Guys, we're talking about the President's chief of staff here. I seriously doubt he's being owed his salary.

Politicians shld be owed for a change. A mere 6months and they are spilling thrash already. What about d lower level civil servants who are owed an even more despicably paltry sum for years? Abeg make una go siddon. Them dey clean pikin nyansh? Mtchewww. Goodluck shld kukuma owe himself na. Celebrated thieves!

So, odeshuku is ONI GBESE too? Fcukkkiing retardeen.

freecocoa:

Are they the first people to be owed?what is their job sef? People have and are being owed for only God knows how long in this country,yet these ones want to start making noise because of six months(in which they must have stolen money 50 times bigger than the said salary sef).they should relax and enjoy the taste of their own pudding,after all they are his advisers.
   I remember how I lost a year of school at special science school due to non payment of teacher's salaries,let these men\women respect themselves and be quiet o.


By the way,how are we even sure this story is true sef?no be all of dem dey join hand thief the money?abi GEJ wan start to dey chop alone? Ah wahala dey o.

its not a small somtin

This thread is an IQ test to fish out all the dullards on NL.

Nobody is owing anybody any money, not least those who help Retardinho in one way or the order to clean the treasury. All these are PR stunts cooked up by the agents of this government to give these pipelines of thievery, the image of some never before seen patroits, toiling for the nation on empty stomachs. Am not saying they cant do without their salaries, what with all the million dollars cornered from the state through phony means. Am only saying that those who did this story line should up their game, this is too childish to evoke any real positive emotion from anyone that knows where Aso Rock is located.

He is owing salaries as they say yet he jst appointed 4 new special advisers including a former ACN chieftain, hmmm.Question is ‎​Ẅђα† r dey advising or is it devising?

How does this concern us?
Should nt we bothered by the yet to be fully implemented minimum wage of N18k for teachers
to be asking why GEJ have nt paid his big men and women special advisers etc?

Kx:

How does this concern us?
Should nt we bothered by the yet to be fully implemented minimum wage of N18k for teachers
to be asking why GEJ have nt paid his big men and women special advisers etc?

Thank you ojare my brother.

Beaf have you been paid yet?