The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has asked the workers of the ministry to show understanding with regards to their demand that the sum of N1.2bn must be paid to them as special overtime allowance.

The minister said in a statement issued by her Media Adviser, Mr. Festus Akanbi, that there were a lot of obligations to be met by the Federal Government in its quest to reset the economy.

She said while the amount being requested by the workers was not captured in the 2016 budget or any extant financial regulations, all genuine complaints and administrative issues raised by them would be promptly reviewed.
The statement read in part, “The minister, who had at Wednesday’s meeting listened to the workers’ requests, confirmed that contractual obligations were being met by the government and promised that all genuine complaints and administrative issues would be promptly reviewed.

“The N1.2bn special overtime payment being demanded by the workers was stopped by the previous administration on the grounds that it was not listed in any extant government circular, financial regulations or the public service rules.

“She, therefore, urged the workers to be patient and understand the current challenges facing the Nigerian economy. The minister was at pains to point out that many people across the country were struggling to find work and that the priority for the government had to be getting the whole economy back on its feet.”