NDLEA Explains Delay in Remitting Salaries of New Operatives

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday explained the delay in the payment of seven-month salaries of some of its newly employed operatives, citing non-regularisation of their accounting records.

NDLEA, a federal law enforcement agency, said the delay affected only 59 out of 5,000 newly recruited operatives, noting that it was caused by the Integrated Personnel Payroll information System (IPPIS).

NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi made this clarification yesterday in reaction to reports on the failure of the federal government to pay salaries and allowance of the operatives after their enlistment.

Reports had claimed that some new personnel of the anti-narcotics agency had complained about not being paid their salaries and allowances since they joined the agency seven months ago.

In response, however, Babafemi said: “From the circular quoted, it is obvious NDLEA does not pay staff salaries from its coffers. All federal government employees are paid by the office of the accountant general of the federation IPPIS office.

“Only about 59 out of 5000 newly recruited personnel currently have some issues which border on wrong account numbers, updating their account details with their banks, all of which the agency is helping them to resolve. Anything outside of this is sheer mischief.”

Some new operatives of the federal law enforcement agency had said they had not been paid their salaries and allowances since they joined the agency seven months ago.

They said after the assurances by the agency that the delayed payment, which was caused by the Integrated Personnel Payroll information System, would be rectified before the end of February, they had yet to get a dime since joining the agency.

One of the officers who pleaded anonymity, said he was tired of the situation.

He said: “How do you explain not earning one naira from your place of work since you joined seven months ago. They are saying it is not from the agency but we work for the agency and they should try and consider us. We have families. We have bills to pay. I am personally tired of the whole thing.”

Another operative, who also pleaded not to be named, urged the agency “to rectify the issue. When you finish training, you are supposed to be paid a training allowance immediately, which most times amounts to six months. Some of us have not been paid.

 “I am not the only one affected. People affected are tired and not motivated to carry on with their daily activities. I have been borrowing to sustain myself and my family.

“Just imagine, seven months after recruitment I have not been paid. They told us through a circular our arrears would be paid at the end of February that the issue was caused by IPPIS. Has February not ended? We are yet to get our money.”

In a memo by the Director, Finance & Accounts, Shittu Abdullahi dated April 6, the agency said only 56 newly recruited personnel were being owed, adding that the issue would soon be resolved.

The memo read in part: “You may be aware that almost all officers and men (newly recruited) have gotten IPPIS number in March 2022. i.e., they have been pay-rolled.

“Issues arose for non-payment which was previously communicated as a result of non-update of accounts and a few with wrong account details which were corrected in March 2022.

“In February 2022 when salary was paid, those whose accounts were not updated were unable to get salary as the transaction failed due to non-update of the accounts as at that period.

“A total of 59 officers and men (not created and migrated) were not paid since January – March 2022 due to non-creation and proper migration by IPPIS.

“This is as a result of bad fingerprints during capturing and technical issues from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation – IPPIS Department. The issue is presently on the desk of IPPIS. We hope this will be rectified very soon.”

Abdullahi, however, told the newly recruited personnel not to expect salary arrears from July 2021.

He added, “Be informed that the date of first appointment as of July 25, 2021, on the appointment letter is the date for kick-starting of training at the agency academy used for all those recruited in 2021.

“It is not the date when payment of salary takes effect. Accordingly, newly recruited personnel agitating salary arrears from July 2021 should not expect any arrears from July 2021.”