DICON Workers Protest Unpaid Allowances, Salary Arrears In Kaduna

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: Civilian staff at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding resolution of several unresolved issues, including unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and alleged exclusion from a government wage scheme.

The protesting workers carried banners highlighting 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.

Tensions Flare, Management Responds

The protest underscored existing tensions between staff and management. Some DICON employees alleged that management deliberately set fire to a disused factory building (identified as G3) the night before the protest, possibly as a diversion tactic.

DICON 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 mentioned the disbursement of outstanding payments, including a “peculiar allowance” for 2023 and promotion arrears from 2020 and 2021.

DICON Staff Dispute Management Claims

DICON staff members on condition of anonymity countered the management’s claims, 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 skeptical about the status of their 2019 minimum wage arrears.

The workers further accused management of deliberately excluding them from IPPIS, a payroll system used by most federal agencies, and expressed suspicion about the nature of the “peculiar allowance” paid to them.