Subsidy: FEC Orders Workers’ Salary Payment By Jan 20

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), has ordered the payment of salaries to public servants by January 20 to enable them overcome the hardships occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, stated this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of an emergency meeting of FEC in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that President Goodluck Jonathan had also directed the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to meet on or before January 15, to finalise all necessary arrangements to ensure the payment of the salary as directed.

“As part of measures to address the discomfort and pains the citizens are going through, Mr President had directed that by the 20th of this month, salaries in the public service should be paid.

“So, he also directed the Ministry of Finance to fast-track the meeting of FAAC to ensure that by the 15, the meeting should take place to ensure early payment of salaries to workers in the public service,” he said.

The Minister stated that the council had approved the payment of all outstanding local debts to contractors, running into billions of naira to address some of the problems being faced by the citizens.

He expressed optimism that the payment of these debts to the contractors would assist in stabilising public works and also cushion the effects of the deregulation of the petroleum sector.

According to him, the council also directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDGs) to immediately fill all existing vacancies in their respective MDAs to address the problem of youth unemployment.

The Minister appealed all Nigerians to shun any act capable of creating disunity among the diverse ethnic and religious groups in the country.

He also called on Nigerians to appreciate the extreme difficulties the nation was going through, saying that the government sympathised with the people on the hardships being experienced.

“We are not here to punish Nigerians. These measures are for the greater good of all Nigerians,” he enthused.

L-R: National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, Mrs. Thelma Iremire, Electoral Officer for Ikwerre Local Government Area, Mrs. Beauty Anuebunwa and Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, supervising the Rivers East senatorial re-run election at Isokpo, yesterday.