LAST week, angry civil servants at the Federal Ministry of Finance shut down its headquarters in Abuja. They were protesting alleged poor attention to their welfare and the non-payment of Special Overtime (SOT) allowances amounting to N1.2 billion. The workers barricaded the gates of the ministry and stood guard there, pouring invectives on the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun. They also prevented her from entering her office. Payment of the contentious SOT allowances was reportedly stopped in 2014 by the immediate past administration on the grounds that it was not listed in any extant government circular, in the Financial Regulations or Public Service Rules. But the angry workers led by their union leaders, last Wednesday, again blocked all entrances to the Ministry and vowed to shut down all business activities there if, within seven days, the Minister and the Permanent Secretary fail to resolve all issues regarding the allowances.
The protesting workers claimed that they were no longer getting overtime allowances, training and welfare packages, and other perks of office, despite several letters to the minister to approve them.
But, reacting to the development, the Minister said she does not have the “powers” to approve such a hefty amount. She said such power rests with President Muhammadu Buhari. Besides, she argued that the present financial situation of the country would make such claims difficult to meet, adding that government is borrowing to pay workers’ salaries and meet other urgent financial obligations. She pleaded with the workers to show understanding with government and drop their demands.
Also, the Director, Information, in the Ministry, Mr. Salisu Dambatta, said in a statement that the workers’ protest was not justifiable. He said that since the SOT allowances were stopped in 2014, they were no longer part of the remuneration in the Federal Public Service.
Altogether, the verbal attacks on the minister and the barricade of the Ministry to stop her from accessing her office are acts unbecoming of responsible civil servants. The uncouth conduct of the aggrieved civil servants is a wrong approach to the serious issue of their welfare. The language they employed against the Minister was indecent, uncivilized and unduly militant.
Undoubtedly, there is nothing wrong with civil servants demanding legitimate allowances that are provided for in the extant laws governing their employment. But, demands for payment of such entitlements should always follow due process. They must be devoid of violence and intemperate language. The minister deserves all the courtesy and protection due to a public official appointed by the President to serve the country.
However, all employers of labour, including the Federal Civil Service, must abide by the terms of employment of their workers. We believe the contract of employment of civil servants provides for work from Monday to Friday. This is in line with the rules and regulations approved by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This means that if a civil servant works beyond these approved workdays, and the approved and contracted work hours, he or she is entitled to special overtime allowance.
Government should look critically into the workers’ demands. If there are merits in their demands, they should be paid accordingly, regardless of the financial crunch in the country. Government needs civil servants to do the work of governance and this can only be done if their welfare is taken care of in line with the rules and regulations guiding the public service. But, we reiterate that such demands by workers should be pursued in a dignified manner. In this instant case, the conduct of the workers was unruly.
It is necessary to resolve the problems that culminated in the protests speedily. While the protests lasted, the meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) could not hold as earlier scheduled but eventually held on Wednesday, June 22. This could delay the payment of salaries of civil servants across the country.
There is no doubt that the country is going through tough economic times, and these times require a peaceful atmosphere and all hands on deck. We enjoin the staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance to give peace a chance and dialogue with the authorities on the best way to resolve all issues concerning their welfare.
Government on its part should ensure that workers are paid all their due salaries and allowances. The government should make the welfare of workers a priority. Failure to pay their salaries and allowances is a negation of global best labour practices.