ON THE INABILITY OF GOVERNORS TO PAY SALARIES

Yesterday, the media went agog with news of a nationwide protest by a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the arrears of salaries owed to state government workers by the various state governments.
Many workers like some who complained in Imo state have not been paid their salaries for months. Workers in Nasarawa have had their salaries slashed by 50%. The government in Imo state plans to reduce workers' salaries under the guise of a two days a week agricultural scheme. The government of Benue state is hiding under a worse scheme of one day a week for agricultural activities not to pay full salaries. In Bauchi state, the government is owing arrears of salaries. In Bayelsa, it is a 50% salary deduction policy. In Kwara, the government owes its workers several months salary. The same story can be heard in most states of the federation.

The pertinent question to ask is why the states expect its workers to work when they are not receiving salaries? Its even contrary to natural justice. They say nobody who doesn't work should eat. It is worse when you are working and yet you do not eat. The workers keep transporting themselves to work and spending money in the process, money that is not replenished. There is hardly any difference between a worker and an unemployed person.

IS IT THE GOVERNMENTS' FAULT? It is not news that the revenue of the country (Nigeria) has drastically reduced due to its mono economic status- crude oil as its major income earner. The global price of crude oil has decreased by over 50% and that has affected Nigeria's revenue. Contrary to the federal nature of Nigeria, the major income earner of state governments was the monthly federal allocation to them. The declining Federal government revenue has affected its allocation to the states, thus making its allocation reduce too. This is the major reason state governments adduce for not paying salaries.
Truth be told, government institutions are not economically viable. Thus, the states are paying heavily for salaries and getting less in return. Granted, government owned corporations are not for profit making rather they are for rendering services. That should not be the case! Government agencies (especially those capable of generating income) should be made viable, at least enough to generate income to pay themselves. It will not kill Nigerians. After all, electricity tariff was increased, fuel prices also were increased, inflation has occurred; Nigerians are still coping despite all these. The private sector does not depend on any form of allocation to pay salaries because it generates its income itself. If government agencies can generate income to cater for its salaries, this issue will not arise. That would not amount to being too profit centered. That is the reason why government cannot pay salaries.
It is high time state governments (and even the federal government) desist from relying on a single source of income. It is also time to make government institutions become viable enough to pay salaries. All these should be done in order to checkmate the incessant inability to pay salaries.