PM Friday Confirms Flat-Rate Bonus for Public Servants in January
Prime Minister Godwin Friday has announced that public servants will receive a Flat-Rate salary bonus in early January, separate from their regular pay.
Speaking on the measure, Friday explained that the flat-rate payment is designed to provide greater benefit to workers at the lower end of the salary scale. He noted that approximately half of public servants are expected to see their income effectively doubled by the bonus, with some receiving even more relative to their monthly earnings.
“The intention is equity. Those at the bottom of the scale will have the biggest benefit,” Friday said. He added that while higher earners will receive the same amount, the proportional impact will be greater for lower-income employees.
Addressing concerns about possible discontent, the Prime Minister stated that workers understand the purpose of the initiative is to put money back into their pockets. He emphasized that the payment will not be folded into regular salaries but issued separately in January, ensuring that it is available for immediate household expenses.
The flat-rate bonus for public servants follows through on a key election pledge by Prime Minister Godwin Friday and the New Democratic Party to deliver direct financial relief amid rising living costs. Public servants had been anticipating the measure since the campaign, with debates centering on whether it would be equitable across salary scales.
Analysts estimate the government will need to allocate tens of millions of dollars to meet the commitment, making it one of the largest single disbursements to workers in recent years. The initiative also marks a shift from the previous administration’s approach, which relied on temporary cost-of-living allowances, by focusing instead on equity ensuring that lower-income earners receive proportionally greater benefit.
The announcement comes amid heightened public discussion about the government’s commitment to easing financial pressures on workers.