By Emmanuel Nduka
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has dismissed a circular purportedly advising civil servants to cautiously spend their November salaries wisely, as the Federal Government is not capable of paying salaries for December.
The circular allegedly titled “PREPARE FOR DELAY IN DECEMBER SALARY”, and dated November 25, alleged that: “Due to the recurrent trends of shortfall in budgetary allocations and its attendant effect on the payment of salaries in recent times across various MDAS, the management wish to regrettably inform all staff that there might be an envisaged delay in payment of December 2021 salary in the Centre.
“Accordingly, all staff are advised to be cautious in spending their November 2021 salary and to make provisions for Christmas celebrations therefrom”.
Reacting to the circular on Thursday in a counter statement, Director of Communications in the OHCSF, AbdulGaniyu Aminu dismissed the circular as “fake news” and assured that the Federal Government places high premium on the welfare of workers.
“The attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been drawn to a circular purportedly issued by the office advising civil servants to exercise caution in spending their November salary because of possible delay in the payment of their December salary.
“The fake news has unfortunately been published in some newspapers and some social media platforms without verifying. For the avoidance of doubt, it must be stated that the office at no time issued any such circular in respect of salary.
“The Nigerian Civil Servants and the general public are hereby advised to disregard the contents of the fake circular as the work of mischief makers,” part of the statement read.
The statement further dismissed the said signatory to the circular, one Dr. S.A. Adegoke, stating that he “is not a staff of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation as there is no record of such an officer in the office”.
“It stands to reason therefore that those behind the so-called circular are just out to cause mischief by spreading false information for reasons best known to them.
“It bears restating therefore that: The so-called circular is nothing but fake news; No such circular was written or emanated from the office; The general public should please disregard the news for what it is: a tale told by those out to cause unnecessary panic and disaffection among Civil Servants; and That the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation will continue to place high premium on the welfare of workers,” it added.
