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Adamawa Workers Lament Significant Salary Deductions for October, Government Cites Statutory Compliance

Adamawa State civil servants are expressing discontent over substantial deductions from their October salaries, with some employees reporting reductions of nearly half their expected pay. Workers have voiced frustrations, particularly as many families are grappling with expenses like school fees, adding to the impact of the unexpected deductions.

Several workers, speaking anonymously to Arewa FRONTPAGE on Monday, questioned the timing and justification of the deductions, which they claim have placed additional financial strain on their households. One worker highlighted the poor timing, noting, “These deductions are not done at the right time. This is the month we are going to pay the school fees of our children, and you are deducting our salary; it is not the best decision.” Another employee from the Ministry of Education questioned the logic behind the backdated deductions, saying, “You don’t allow statutory deductions to accumulate. In this case, the government claims some deductions weren’t applied in previous months. So, whose fault is that?”

In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou, clarified in a press statement issued Friday that the deductions comply with federal and state statutory requirements. A senior official in the Ministry of Finance provided a breakdown, explaining that the deductions included:

Income Tax Deductions (PAYE) based on the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011.
National Housing Fund (NHF) – 2.5% contribution.
Adamawa State Health Insurance Contributory Scheme dues.

The official explained that these deductions resulted from three months’ worth of unpaid contributions for the National Housing Fund, PAYE, and the State Health Insurance Scheme. “Adhering to government policy necessitated these payments,” he stated, underscoring that the Personal Income Tax Act mandates income tax deductions from all earnings.

He also dispelled rumors that a blanket deduction of N40,000 was applied across all employees, stating, “Contrary to reports, there was no blanket N40,000 deduction; this misinformation is intended to misrepresent the government’s actions.”

While the government emphasizes the legality of these deductions, many workers continue to express dissatisfaction, especially given the cumulative impact on their October pay.