New Research Shows Abia, Ebonyi, Taraba Owing Workers Six Months Salary

A new state report by BudgIT, a civic-tech organisation focused on public affiars, has revealed that 12 state governments in Nigeria are owing their workers at least one month salary and at most, six months wages.

States like Abia, Ebonyi, and Taraba are owing civil servants up to six months, with Ondo State workers yet to receive four months salary.

BudgIT said in its 2022 Nigerian Sub-National Salary Survey that the state governments’ failure to pay workers salary is a breach of contractual provision and employee rights at the continental and international levels.

The report said as at July 28, 2022, 12 states owe workers at least one month’s salary as of July 28, 2022, with BudgIT’s head of research and policy advisory, Iniobong Usen, stating that it could affect the smooth working of the government.

Usen explained that timely payment of salary is crucial to the survival and livelihood of civil servants. He stated that failure to pay salaries is a disregard for legal obligation based on the employee contract.

The research by BudgIT reads, “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 labour and harsh living conditions.”

The organisation said, “For example, Abia state currently owes its state tertiary institution workers six (6) months’ salary, while Ebonyi has not paid its pensioners in the last six (6) months. Secretariat workers in Taraba complained of irregular salary payments for up to six (6) months, while lecturers at state tertiary institutions and midwives in the state-owned hospital in Ondo State have not been paid a dime in the last four (4) months.”