Federal Workers have demanded immediate payment of three-month outstanding N35,000 wage award.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Federal civil servants have called on the Nigerian government to urgently settle three months of unpaid arrears from the N35,000 wage award introduced last year to cushion the impact of rising living costs.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, workers expressed deep frustration over what they described as an unexplained and troubling delay, especially as inflation continues to weaken purchasing power and strain household budgets.
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Several employees said the stalled payments reflect a recurring pattern in which the government delays action until public dissatisfaction becomes intense.
Workers Lament Delays
Dr. Uche Anune, a civil servant, criticised the government for repeatedly waiting for tensions to rise before honoring its commitments.
“The government should not wait until workers become agitated before fulfilling its obligations,” he said. “There is always a tendency to delay until people start protesting. It shouldn’t be so.”
The wage award was introduced as a temporary relief pending the conclusion of a new national minimum wage. Though the government earlier acknowledged five months of arrears, only two months were eventually paid before the process halted again.
Joseph Edeh, another federal worker, said the prolonged silence has fueled doubts about the government’s sincerity.
“They paid two months and stopped. Why are we being treated this way? Nobody is happy,” he said. “They should clear the arrears, pay the remaining three months at once and move on.”
Miss Franca Ofili noted that the N35,000 allowance, though small, makes a critical difference for many households.
“That N35,000 can go a long way. We need the money,” she said. “The government should clear the outstanding arrears at once.”
Economic Pressure Deepens Impact
The delay comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with severe economic hardship following fuel subsidy removal, currency depreciation, and surging transportation and energy costs. Many civil servants say the wage award has become a necessary cushion in the absence of a new minimum wage.
In reaction to the growing concern, the Federal Government insisted it remains committed to clearing the arrears, explaining that payment depends on available revenue.
Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, confirmed that three tranches are still outstanding after the last payment in August.
“Contrary to insinuations, the Federal Government has not reneged on the payment,” Mokwa said. “The government will continue to pay the wage award in N35,000 monthly installments until the arrears are fully cleared.”
For many workers, however, government assurances mean little until the payments resume. Their demand is simple: fulfill the promise and pay what is owed.
