Frustration is boiling over among Local Government workers in Taraba State as they demand the immediate payment of their February 2025 salaries, which have been delayed for weeks.
The Taraba State Bureau for Local Government, Traditions, and Chieftaincy Affairs has attempted to ease tensions, attributing the setback to the state’s failure to receive its statutory allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
In a statement, the Bureau’s permanent secretary, Engr. Godfrey Dame Andrew, reassured workers that the delay was not deliberate and that the government remains committed to their welfare.
“The government is fully aware of the concerns of Local Government staff and assures them that salaries will be paid as soon as the FAAC allocation is received,” the statement read.
However, this assurance has done little to calm the growing anger among workers across the state’s 16 Local Government Councils. Many accuse the government of neglecting their plight, arguing that other states, like Adamawa, have managed to pay workers using internally generated revenue (IGR).
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“Governor Fintiri of Adamawa has paid Local Government salaries using IGR, so why can’t our governor do the same?” one worker fumed. “Must we always depend on FAAC before getting paid? The state makes money, but instead of prioritizing salaries, funds are being spent on projects that don’t directly benefit the people. This delay is making life unbearable for us and our families.”
With the ongoing Ramadan fast, the situation has become even more distressing. The affected workers say they are struggling to feed their families and observe the fast properly, urging the state government to act swiftly before the holy month ends.
The outcry over unpaid salaries is fueling concerns about financial mismanagement in the state, with workers and labor unions threatening protests if the government fails to address the crisis immediately.
