Civil servants in Niger State who received multiple salary payments in February 2025 have been directed to return the excess funds immediately or risk penalties, including salary suspension.
The directive, issued by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was contained in a circular signed by Comrade Idris A. Lafene, the State Chairman of the NLC, and Comrade Ibrahim Gana, the State Chairman of the TUC. The circular mandates affected workers to refund the overpaid amounts to the Niger State Government Salary Account at Zenith Bank.
According to the statement, all repayments must be completed before March 24, 2025. Any staff who fails to comply will have their salaries withheld and could face disciplinary action under civil service financial misconduct regulations.
Additionally, affected workers must ensure their names and control numbers are included in the teller narration when making the refunds. A hard copy of the payment receipt must be submitted to the Treasury Unit of the Ministry of Finance, either individually or through their respective branch unions. Workers opting for POS transactions are advised to photocopy their receipts to prevent loss due to ink fading.
“This circular supersedes any previous directives on the subject matter,” the document concluded.
The directive has sparked mixed reactions among civil servants, with some expressing concern over the short notice for repayment, while others argue that the refund process should be more transparent to ensure accountability.
Authorities have yet to clarify how the multiple salary disbursements occurred, but the swift call for reimbursement signals the state government’s commitment to addressing payroll discrepancies.
For now, affected civil servants must act fast to comply or risk financial penalties that could impact their earnings in the coming months