FG to commence payment of outstanding N35,000 wage arrears

The Federal Government has announced it will commence the payment of the outstanding five months’ arrears of the N35,000 wage award owed to federal workers.

In a statement released in Abuja on Monday, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed that all arrangements had been finalised for the disbursement. The statement, signed by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, explained that while five months of the wage award had already been paid, arrears for another five months were still outstanding.

The government plans to clear the backlog in instalments, with N35,000 to be paid monthly for five months. The OAGF noted that the first payment will be made immediately after April 2025 salaries are disbursed. However, it clarified that the wage award arrears would be paid separately, not together with April salaries.

According to the OAGF, the Federal Government remains committed to fulfilling its agreements and policies on workers’ welfare, adding that efforts are ongoing to maintain better conditions for public servants in the country.

The N35,000 wage award was one of the palliative measures introduced to ease the impact of economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies. It followed negotiations between the government and labour unions to address the rising cost of living.

With this development, federal workers who have been awaiting the balance of their wage award can now expect gradual payment from the end of April. The OAGF assured that no eligible worker would be left out as it works closely with relevant agencies to ensure smooth disbursement.