The Federal Government has announced plans to commence the payment of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears owed to federal civil servants.
In a statement released in Abuja, Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) disclosed that the arrears will be disbursed in installments, with workers receiving N35,000 monthly for five months.
The Federal Government had earlier paid wage awards to federal workers for five months to help mitigate the effects of ongoing economic reforms. However, an additional five months’ arrears remained outstanding.
According to the statement, “The wage award arrears would not be paid with the April 2025 salary; it will come immediately after the salary is paid.”
Mokwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fully implementing all agreements related to staff remuneration and welfare, stressing that these measures are essential for enhancing productivity and efficiency across the public service.
In 2023, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) proposed a ₦35,000 wage award to the Federal Government as a palliative measure aimed at supporting workers following the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic reforms.
In response to growing economic pressures from the removal of fuel subsidies and currency reforms, the Federal Government introduced a ₦35,000 wage award in September 2023 as a temporary relief measure for lower-income workers. While initial disbursements were made between late 2023 and early 2024, subsequent delays raised concerns among labour unions.
Amid renewed negotiations, the government approved a new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 in 2024, reflecting broader efforts to ease the rising cost of living. The recent announcement to resume payment of the outstanding wage award arrears is now seen as a move to fulfil earlier commitments to workers.
