FG laments increasing wage bill of N1.8trn

The Federal Government on Monday expressed concern over the increasing wage bill of about 1.2 million public servants, which rose from N857 million in 2009 to N1.8 trillion yearly.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, coordinating minister for the economy and finance minister, gave this position while speaking at the tripartite meeting held at the instance of the House Committee on Health aimed at ending the three weeks old nationwide strike embarked upon by Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Okonjo-Iweala, who was represented by Bright Okogu, director general of Budget Office, expressed concern over the incessant strike action embarked upon by public servants from various sectors, blaming the hike in wage bill on 2009 salary relativity and N18,000 minimum wage.

She, however, noted that the increasing wage bill resulting from sectoral industrial action and agitation for salary increase, if not addressed would further aggravate the unemployment rate and reduce capital expenditure.

While reacting to the recommendation to draw from the over N1.6 trillion approved for Service Wide Votes in the 2014 Appropriation Act, the minister noted that the funds are meant for specific items including pensions and other unnamed items.

In his remarks, Samuel Adejare, member, House Committee on Public Accounts, urged the Federal Government to draw from the over N1 trillion domiciled in the Service Wide Votes considering the enormity of the lingering crisis.

Adejare, who is a member of the House Committee on Health, noted that the Federal Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies have failed to submit details of the items enlisted in the Service Wide Votes despite pressure from both Senate and the House of Representatives.