Civilian staff of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, (DICON), have protested the non-payment of their 2019 minimum wage arrears, and called for their inclusion in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, (IPPIS).
The protesters gathered outside the Corporation’s Ordnance Factory Complex in Kakuri, Kaduna, displaying placards and banners with messages such as, “Enrolment into IPPIS,” “Payment of our six-month arrears,” and “Payment of our 2019 minimum wage arrears.”
The aggrieved workers say their exclusion from IPPIS has prevented them from receiving the recent wage increase, implemented for employees enrolled in the system.
DICON Director-General, Major General Aniedi Edet explained that the corporation is not the only agency on the government Integrated Financial Management Information System, (GIFMIS) platform, as transitioning to IPPIS would require time and could disrupt salary payments.
He also said the unpaid allowances and minimum wage arrears were not directly controlled by DICON, but the corporation is pursuing the payment with the relevant authorities.
What happens going forward remains unclear as Section 3, Subsection 11, of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, (DICON) Act says it is an offence, punishable by imprisonment, for any person employed by the corporation, to participate in a strike or trade union activities, suggesting there may be consequences for participants of this demonstration.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
