First Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament Oyet Nathaniel speaks on Eye Radio's Dawn Show. July 14, 2023. (Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio)

The First Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament on Monday questioned why civil servants are not being paid their salaries while the country receives what he terms as “sufficient” oil and non-oil revenues.

Apparently, all civil servants in the states and administrative areas, except the army, have not received their salaries for the last four months.

Oyet Nathaniel said although there are some difficulties in the economy, it is not a justification to deprive civil servants of their payment.

He said salary is an unnegotiable right of every working citizen and must therefore be paid as outlined in the fiscal year budget 2023-2024.

“Salaries are part and parcel of Labor rights. You work and expect to get paid. For you to go for months without getting paid, is inexcusable,” said the lawmaker speaking on Eye Radio’s Dawn Show.

According to him, the non-oil revenue collection by the National Revenue Authority has increased from 2 billion pounds in 2020 to 23 billion pounds per month.

He also stated that the government also pumps 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day into the international market – generating 11,100,000 US dollars a day.

The legislator says after the remission of 10% as transit fee and payment to extracting companies, the remaining revenue is more than enough to pay civil servants.

“The 2023-2024 budget, which was brought by the Minister of Finance includes the salaries. We establish the resource envelope. Whenever budgets are brought, we first look at the resource envelope, the oil and non-oil revenue.”

“We are cognizant without reasonable doubt that we have sufficient oil revenue that flows into the government coffers.”

“We also have sufficient non-oil revenues that flows into government coffers. We expect the government to pay salaries out of these, because it is in work that services are produced.”

The recently concluded 7^TH Governors Forum has recommended immediate payment of salaries for all civil servants before the end of the years.