Members of the Trade Union Congress and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria staged a protest on Tuesday at the Federal Ministry of Finance, calling for the urgent disbursement of unpaid pensions, salary arrears, and other entitlements owed to staff of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
Dressed in red shirts and wielding placards, the demonstrators shut down the ministry’s entrance, effectively halting vehicle movement in and out of the premises and prompting many government employees to return home.
Speaking at the protest, TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, decried the Ministry of Finance’s decision to withhold the Internally Generated Revenue of the NNRA—funds which are essential for paying workers’ salaries and pensions.
“This protest is necessitated by the unexplained withholding of the NNRA’s IGR. It is from these funds that staff members and retirees receive their payments,” Toro stated. “It’s baffling that counterparts in similar agencies have been settled, yet NNRA workers remain unpaid.”
He also criticized the delay in salary payments amid the current economic hardship, stressing that inflation and the rising cost of living have already eroded the value of the proposed N70,000 minimum wage.
“When workers are not paid promptly, it deepens their suffering. The economic realities have made the minimum wage insufficient even before it is implemented,” he said.
However, Toro noted a breakthrough in discussions, revealing that the Minister of Finance had approved the release of the funds.
“We appreciate the Honourable Minister’s approval today. According to the Permanent Secretary, the funds should reflect in our accounts very soon. This demonstration is suspended—not called off—until Wednesday, May 21, 2024,” he announced.
In response, Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, Raymond Omachi, assured the unionists that their demands were being addressed.
“I’ve communicated your concerns to the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy. We now have the green light to process your payments. Within the next 48 hours, disbursement will commence,” Omachi affirmed.
He commended the workers for their restraint and solidarity, assuring them, “Your concerns have been acknowledged. We are committed to resolving them without delay.”