Era of special bonuses gone, Adeosun tells angry workers
Since she assumed office, Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, has continuously preached fiscal discipline, and she says that discipline must also be seen in her ministry.
At the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting in April, Adeosun said fiscal discipline would help Nigeria achieve economic stability.
The minister’s policy has however been seen to be biting hard on some staff in her ministry, budget office, and office of the accountant general.
On Monday, the workers staged a protest, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to fire her.
DAYS OF UNLAWFUL SPECIAL ALLOWANCES ARE GONE
But speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said when she made the promise to the Nigerian people to enshrine fiscal responsibility in government dealings, she meant it.
“When I said at the start of my tenure that I would restore fiscal responsibility to our economy, it was no idle promise. The money we spend is not our money, it belongs to the Nigerian people,” Adeosun said.
“We need to justify every naira and at a time when all Nigerians are suffering the consequences of the financial crisis inherited from previous administrations, we simply cannot afford to pay out special bonuses to civil servants. Those days are gone.”
NO OVERTIME ALLOWANCE IN 2016 BUDGET
Adeosun said all salaries and lawful allowances are paid on time and in full, emphasising that the overtime allowance sought by some staff is non-statutory.
The ministry had earlier explained that the overtime allowance was carried over from the immediate past administration and cannot continue at such austere time.
“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,” she had said.
The days of unlawful spending and illegal spending are gone. The workers are not campaining for thier salaries but for unlawful bonuses
Thank you Mrs Kemi. It’s time corruption is stopped and we all focus on building our economy rightfully.
It’s really great to know the minister is not giving in to the illegal actions of the workers.
All salaries and allowances are paid on time and fully, so the overtime allowance request by some section of staff is non-statutory. The Minister does not even have the power to pay N1.2 billion, which was not in the budget of the Ministry.
Did the workers work over time in the first place, are they require to complete an assignment that may need them to work above their statutory working hours? If this is established then they are entitled to receive their reward… Draconian mindset must be expunged for us to move forward… Using a sledgehammer to kill ant habiting in a glass floor might prove more expensive in the long run… Workers moral and motivation can’t be trample upon because at the end productivity if properly measured may suffer adversely as a consequence…
The twin monster of ghost worker and illegal allowances have helped to keep young graduates on the street in search of job.
Someone has well paid job, paid from our common wealth, yet is asking for unsustainable, frivolous and illegal allowance while millions are starving.
Let them take the option to resign and make way for fresh and even better educated ones who are jobless for years.
Well said and Thumbed up! They should accept what is due for them or resign.