Anxiety rocks Federal Civil Service over salary cuts, unpaid arrears

Anxiety and anger are spreading across Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service as workers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) grapple with unexplained salary reductions, unpaid arrears, and the absence of official communication from the Federal Government.

Labour sources warn that the deepening frustration could trigger widespread industrial unrest if not urgently addressed.

Investigations reveal that federal workers have endured months of financial strain, citing shrinking monthly take-home pay, delayed allowances, and promotion arrears dating back several years. Many describe the situation as unprecedented, particularly as some state governments are reportedly paying higher wages than the Federal Government — a development insiders say has never occurred in Nigeria’s minimum wage history.

At the centre of the complaints is the non-issuance of pay slips since September 2025, leaving employees unable to track deductions or understand the steady decline in their salaries. Staff in several MDAs — including the Federal Ministry of Information, Labour and Employment, Agriculture, and Education, as well as agencies such as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) — report persistent reductions in take-home pay without explanation.

Workers also lament the non-payment of three months’ wage award arrears, despite repeated assurances from authorities. The wage award, introduced to cushion economic hardship, remains unsettled, further worsening living conditions amid rising costs.

Promotion arrears have compounded the crisis. Officers promoted in 2023 reportedly received only partial payments in 2024, while those promoted in 2024 and 2025 have yet to receive any arrears. The backlog spans multiple MDAs, leaving some senior officials earning the same salaries as subordinates years after elevation.

The 20 per cent weighing-in allowance, considered statutory, has allegedly not been paid since August 2024. Similarly, the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance — approved under former President Muhammadu Buhari for federal workers — was last paid in July 2024, with arrears still outstanding.

Organised labour sources describe the mood across federal offices as “volatile,” warning that continued silence from authorities could lead to protests or industrial action.

“Morale is at its lowest ebb. People cannot explain their salaries, promotions mean nothing anymore, and allowances have vanished,” a senior civil servant said.

Workers are demanding immediate transparency regarding salary deductions, release of outstanding pay slips, and full settlement of all arrears. Many caution that failure to act swiftly could deepen the crisis and disrupt service delivery across the federal public service.

Efforts to obtain official responses from relevant Federal Government authorities, including the Office of the Head of Service, were unsuccessful as calls and messages remained unanswered at the time of filing this report.

Vanguard