From: Femi Oyelolafemi, Kaduna
Civilian staff at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON,) staged a protest in Kaduna, yesterday, to demand the resolution of several unresolved issues, including unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and alleged exclusion from a government wage scheme.
The protesting workers carried banners to highlight their grievances, such as non-enrollment in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of a six-month “palliative” allowance, outstanding minimum wage arrears from 2019, and delayed promotion benefits.
The protest underscored existing tensions between staff and management, with some DICON employees alleging that the management had deliberately set fire to a disused factory building (identified as G3) the night before the protest, possibly as a diversion tactic.
The management, however, denied the accusation. In a statement signed by Public Relations Officer Musa Yakubu, they acknowledged past issues with allowances and entitlements but claimed proactive measures were taken.
The statement also mentioned the disbursement of outstanding payments, including a “peculiar allowance” for 2023 and promotion arrears from 2020 and 2021.
On the other hand, the staff members on condition of anonymity, countered the management’s claims, while alleging a lack of transparency and communication.
They pointed out that, unlike other federal workers, they haven’t received the promised six-month wage increase and remain sceptical about the status of their 2019 minimum wage arrears.
