Workers in Nigeria’s federal government paramilitary agencies, paid under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), have expressed concern over excessive salary deductions and the inability to access their payslips on the IPPIS portal, which has been shut down since May 2024.
According to the workers, this disruption has left them in the dark about the reasons behind the abnormal salary deductions.
Earlier in February 2024, the IPPIS portal had been accessible, allowing employees to view their payslips and track their basic salary, deductions, and net pay. However, from May onwards, the portal was closed, leading to confusion and frustration among workers who now report unusually high deductions.
Some officers, especially those at the level 10 rank, have reportedly seen their net pay drop to as low as N25,000.
Adding to the discontent, paramilitary personnel from various agencies under the Ministry of Interior, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS), claimed they have not received their promotion arrears. Workers promoted in December 2023 also highlighted that, as of this month, they have not been placed on their new salary scale.
One anonymous source noted, “Those who were promoted in December 2023 were not placed, and this month marks a year of their promotion.”
Workers also called for the federal government to direct the IPPIS authorities to reactivate the portal, enabling them to access their payslips and understand the reasons for the discrepancies in their pay.
Despite the troubling issues, the workers emphasized the failure of the federal government to pay promotion arrears. The frustration intensified as personnel from the Nigeria Prisons Service, NSCDC, and NIS accused the government of neglecting their entitlements, even though funds for their allowances had been released.
In contrast, employees of the Federal Fire Service and other agencies under the Ministry of Interior have been successfully placed on their next salary levels and paid their allowances.
In response, the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of salary deductions and unpaid promotion arrears for the personnel of paramilitary agencies.
The directive came in a statement issued by Ahmed Ja’afaru, Secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). The Minister urged the affected workers to remain calm while the investigation is underway.
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“The Board wishes to assure our dedicated officers of its commitment to achieving a swift and positive resolution to these matters,” the statement read.
The issue of salary deductions and unpaid promotion arrears has persisted for some time, with several personnel expressing the possibility of staging a nationwide protest.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, clarified that protests by uniformed personnel are against regulations and urged officers to utilize proper channels to address their grievances.
Similarly, the NSCDC spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, revealed that the Corps Commandant-General, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, had already addressed the matter, assuring the personnel that all issues related to salary deductions would be resolved by the end of the month.
The Federal Government has assured the personnel that the ongoing investigation will be thorough and that their concerns will be addressed. The government has also called on workers to remain patient and allow the investigation process to proceed.
“The Honourable Minister/Chairman of the Board, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has directed that a comprehensive investigation be carried out forthwith by the Board on the matter while calling on officers of the paramilitary services to remain calm,” the statement concluded.
