Civil servants in Cross River have expressed mixed reactions over early payment of their December 2016 salary, as they look forward to resumption of schools next Monday.
A cross section of the workers made their feelings known on Thursday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
NAN recalled that civil servants in the state received their December 2016 salary on Dec. 1 in what the state governor said was a way of motivating workers ahead of the Calabar Carnival.
A civil servant, Mr Emmanuel Odey, told NAN that though early payment of last December salary was commendable, it came too early for comfort.
“When the salary was paid, we all rejoiced, but it came too early and during the festivities.
“I tried to manage as much as I can but it was difficult.
“Today, as I speak with you, I do not know where to raise money for my children fees as they prepare to return to school on Monday, ‘’ he said.
Mrs Nkoyo Etim, another civil servant, also expressed reservation on the early payment of December 2016 salary and described the situation as `mixed fortune.’
“Well it is good to pay salary regularly and I thank the governor for that because since he assumed office, he has been paying regularly.
“But paying salary on Dec. 1 was really had to believe.
“The problem now is that many workers celebrated the Carnival and Christmas with lots of fun, forgetting that January will soon come and it will be time for school fees.
“Now the time has come and everybody is running up and down, ‘’Etim said.
Also speaking, another worker, Mr Ojong Christopher, said the situation was critical for him.
He admitted that, he had fun with his family during the carnival as there was cash to spend.
“We were hoping that the governor was going to pay a kind of Christmas bonus to workers, but that was not to be.
“We will have to manage till whenever he decides to pay January salary.
“At least, between now and end of January, salary will come and I will pay my children school fees, ‘’ he said.
Christopher however, advised the government to have a definite time for payment of workers’ salaries, saying it would provide workers the opportunity to plan well.
“Every worker should know and have it at the back of his mind that this is the date or week to expect salary. This will enable people to plan their activities.
“There is nothing wrong in paying salary early and regularly, infact that is what we are praying for, ‘’ he said.
Other workers who spoke to NAN appealed to the governor to also pay the January salary in good time to enable them pay their children school fees on time. (NAN)