With
fast declining revenue, the Federal Government said yesterday it is now
faced with the prospect of borrowing to meet the monthly civil service
wage bill of N165 billion.
Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who
had met with protesting workers of her ministry on Wednesday, said in a
statement in Abuja yesterday that she does not have any power to pay
N1.2 billion, which was not in the budget of the Ministry.
The minister said she had put all
government departments to real squeeze in finances as the country
grapples with the financial crisis inherited from previous
administrations.Pointing out that many people across the country are now
struggling to find work, with some losing theirs, while civil servants
in many states are not getting their salaries, the minister urged her
ministry workers to be grateful for getting their salaries on consistent
basis and work together to get the whole economy back on its feet.
At the meeting to reconcile all parties
involved in the workers’ protest, it was agreed that the ministry’s
management would meet with unions to consider the issues raised and map
out ways to reach resolutions on of before today.
The minister had met with staff unions
at the ministry on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing dispute over
additional payments, where she urged them to present their grievances in
a structured and articulated manner so that each issue would be
formally presented and addressed on its merit.
While she expressed understanding for
their demand for additional bonuses, based on their past dealings with
the previous administration, she explained that she does not have any
power to pay N1.2 billion, especially the one that is not in the budget.
The minister added that while government
is determined to end the ongoing impasse over bonus and allowance with
the workers, the labour unions should propose modalities that would
increase revenue generation and structure to pay the bonuses.
Credit: Guardian
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