The outcry arises as workers from diverse federal sectors, including educational institutions, media outlets, and government bodies, confront escalating financial pressures.

A memorandum from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, as reported by PREMIUM TIMES, had forewarned employees about the anticipated delay.

Citing efforts to finalize the 2024 Appropriation on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform, the memo explained the delay in releasing the January 2024 Personnel Warrant.

This delay has impacted Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) nationwide, with employees urged to exhibit patience as authorities address the issue.

The delay’s ramifications are particularly pronounced in states like Ekiti, where workers from institutions such as the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), and Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, express concerns.

Wole Balogun from FUOYE and Folashade Daramola from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, lamented the additional financial strain and criticized bureaucratic hurdles exacerbating the payment delays.

Furthermore, Owoeye Ilesanmi from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) highlighted the government’s failure to fully disburse the wage award pledged to federal workers in response to the petrol subsidy removal, amplifying the economic challenges.

In Katsina State, workers like an engineer from the Federal University, Dutsin Ma, and a non-academic staff member of the Federal Polytechnic, Daura, report disruptions to their routines and financial stress due to the salary delay.

With the delay affecting employees’ ability to commute to work and exacerbating the financial pressure from rising food prices, the sentiment among federal workers is one of increasing desperation.

Many have taken to social media to voice their grievances, with one worker humorously referring to the extended wait for their salary as “January the 39th,” indicating the prolonged nature of the month without pay.