Staff of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) have given the state government a 14-day ultimatum to address their salary review and welfare demands, warning that continued neglect could lead to industrial action.
The workers, under the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), said their salaries had failed to keep pace with rising living costs despite their role in boosting the state’s internally generated revenue.
In a letter to the authorities, the KWIRS chapter of the union said it submitted a comprehensive salary review and welfare proposal to management on April 2, 2026, but had yet to receive a response.
According to the association, management promised at a meeting with union representatives on May 14 to consider the proposal and other demands. However, the workers said no feedback had been provided.
They also referred to a letter dated August 10, 2026, in which they demanded consultation with the union over any salary increments and raised concerns about staff welfare, grade levels and union participation.
The workers said they helped prevent revenue leakages and were deployed to hospitals and other ministries, departments and agencies to protect government income, often working under pressure and at irregular hours.
Despite these responsibilities, they claimed many staff members struggled to meet basic needs, with loan deductions from fintech platforms, including PalmPay, OPay and FairMoney, as well as other financial institutions, leaving some with little or no money before the end of the month.
The association also expressed concern over what it described as stagnant personnel costs, despite increases in other government expenditure.
It cited a salary negotiation agreement dated October 11, 2022, which reportedly stated that the adjustment would be implemented as soon as it could be accommodated in the budget.
The workers said nearly four years later, the adjustment had not been implemented and there was no clear timeline for its commencement.
They added that rising costs of food, transport, rent and school fees had worsened their financial difficulties.
“We cannot continue to generate wealth for the state while we wallow in abject poverty,” the workers said.
The union urged members to remain united and vigilant as the 14-day ultimatum, which began on October 15, runs its course.
Discussion0