Staff of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS have lamented poor welfare conditions, rising living costs and stagnant salaries, warning of a possible industrial action over the prolonged delay in salary adjustments.
In a circular issued on October 15, 2026 by the secretary of KWIRS unit of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, Adam M Ibrahim, the workers expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as inadequate welfare provisions despite their contributions to the state’s revenue generation.
The workers said their sacrifices and professionalism had helped position Kwara among the more financially self-reliant states in the country, but lamented that their contributions had not translated into improved welfare.
“We block leakages. We are posted to hospitals and other MDAs to secure government revenue. We work under pressure day and night, but we continue to struggle to meet basic needs due to poor salaries,” the circular stated.
According to the circular, many staff members now exhaust their salaries before the end of the month due to loan deductions from fintech platforms such as PalmPay, OPay and FairMoney, as well as other financial institutions.
The situation, it said, has forced some workers to take additional loans to meet their basic needs, worsening their financial hardship.
The association also expressed concern over what it described as stagnant personnel costs over the years, despite increases in other expenditure heads.
It further referenced a salary negotiation agreement dated October 11, 2022, which reportedly stated that the proposed adjustment would be implemented “as soon as it can be accommodated in the budget.”
However, the workers said nearly four years after the agreement, there had been no implementation or clear indication of when the adjustment would take effect, despite the rising cost of living.
The association called on its members to remain calm, vigilant and prayerful as the 14-day period that commenced on October 15, 2026, continues to count down.
