Workers in the 20 local government areas (LGAs) of Bauchi State are currently observing a very tough and gloomy Ramadan fast as the Government is yet to pay their February 2025 salary.
The civil servants who were supposed to receive their salary at the end of the month which ended about three weeks ago are left in limbo with no definite explanation for the unusual delay.
Thousands of the affected LGA workers and their families are enmeshed in hardship following the delay in the payment.
WikkiTimes understands that the delay in Bauchi and other states came in the wake of the Federal Government’s effort to enforce a Supreme Court ruling of July 11, 2024, granting financial autonomy to local governments, to which many governors objected.
According to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, two major setbacks delay the payments: the failure of LGAs to submit account details and the identification of the LGAs that are democratically elected, which is a prerequisite for receiving direct payment.
As of March 3, only Delta State, with 25 local government councils, has submitted their account details for direct payment.
However, States like Kano have been able to raise funds for their LGA workers’ salaries despite the withholding of the grant.
Eight months after the judgment, the status quo lingers as fears, uncertainties, and frustrations mount among workers who are unable to provide for their families.
Malam Ibrahim, a civil servant in Misau LGA and a father of six, shared his painful ordeal with WikkiTimes.
“The delay in the payment of our February salary has made life difficult for me and my family. I hardly sleep well these days thinking of what to provide for them.”
With the Ramadan fast ongoing and the added pressure of preparing for the Eid celebration, Ibrahim’s worries have only deepened.
“The demands are high these days, from Iftar to daily necessities. My mind kept thinking of how I could provide for my family. Even those who lent us money have stopped because we haven’t repaid old debts. Every time I step out of the house, my greatest fear is how I can provide for my family,” he lamented.
Teachers, Workers Left Stranded
Mohammed Ahmed, a primary school teacher and head of a ten-member household, echoed similar frustrations.
“With the present situation, my salary hardly lasts for 20 days, and now it has been delayed. How do you expect one to survive in this situation?” he asked in frustration.
According to Ahmed, the government’s failure to fulfill its promises to prioritize workers’ welfare has shattered the trust of many civil servants.
“We eagerly await when our salaries will be paid. But the truth of the matter is that we are suffering enough. How can you delay someone’s earnings and expect them to live well in this condition?
“They have failed us. Why is it that anytime such action is taken, it is only local government and Local Education Authority (LEA) staff that are affected?” he queried.
For workers like Samayya Dahiru, a civil servant in Bauchi Local Government, the worst-hit victims in this crisis are the poor masses.
“We are the ones feeling the pain. When salaries are delayed, families go hungry, children drop out of school, and basic medical needs cannot be met. This is not just about us, it’s about the people we take care of,” she lamented.
The economic impact of delayed salaries extends beyond the affected workers.
Market traders, landlords, transporters, and other daily income earners whose businesses depend on the purchasing power of salaried workers also suffer.
The effect means dwindling sales for shop owners, increased rent defaults, and a rise in poverty levels in already struggling communities.
The apex court had affirmed the financial autonomy of the 774 local government areas in the country and prohibited governors from further control of funds meant for the councils.
Many observers believe state governors who have long controlled local government funds influenced them not to comply with the directive to provide their details.
The new arrangement which tries to eliminate interference from state governments now remains a litmus test for President Bola Tinubu.
Consequently, workers who rely solely on their salaries have been left to bear the brunt of the bureaucratic confusion.
WikkiTimes efforts to hear from the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Bauchi proved unsuccessful as the President, Muhammad Yunusa, did not pick up calls placed on his mobile number. He did not reply to an SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to him.
Similarly, WikkiTimes attempted to speak with Ningi, Misau, and Warji LGAs chairmen on the unusual delay in their workers’ pay but have not answered their calls. NULGE officials in Ningi and Warji promised to get back to WikkiTimes but have not as at the time of filing the report.
Fear of the Future
Amid this crisis, the biggest concern for workers is the uncertainty surrounding future payments. Many fear that the lack of a clear framework for local government autonomy could lead to further disruptions in salary payments.
However, people like Yusuf Mohammed, a civil servant from Tafawa Balewa Local Government, workers need to remain resilient.
“Despite the hardship, we must endure so that the system can be corrected. This transition is necessary, and it may take time before things stabilize,” he said.
While his optimism is commendable, the reality remains desolate for thousands of workers struggling to survive each passing day without their rightful earnings.
The Implications of the Crisis
Many workers live paycheck to paycheck and the delay plunges them into more debt, forcing them to seek financial assistance from loan sharks, friends, and relatives who are also struggling.
Also, this crisis could lead to growing resentment towards the state government, especially as workers understand the overwhelming influence of the state authorities.
For government officials, the autonomy was meant to strengthen local government administration.
However, if funds are not properly disbursed, the system could face further setbacks.
For many local government workers, the dream of financial autonomy has turned into a nightmare of financial hardship.
