Finance Minister has stated that the federal government is to begin the payment of outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears before mid-August.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has assured federal civil servants that payment of the outstanding N35,000 monthly wage award arrears will commence before the middle of August, while outstanding promotion arrears are also being processed.
The assurance comes amid renewed concerns by organised labour over delays in implementing workers’ welfare agreements, including unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears and salary-related allowances.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, gave the assurance during a meeting with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Trade Side, led by its National President, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, in Abuja.
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The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie.
According to the statement, the Federal Government has reached the final stage of securing the necessary release of funds for the payment.
“The Federal Government has assured public servants that the outstanding wage award will be paid before the middle of August, while promotion arrears are being processed as part of ongoing efforts to fulfil its commitments to workers,” the statement read.
Oyedele reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to honouring agreements reached with workers, stressing that the government would only make promises it could fulfil.
“When government makes commitments, it delivers. We are not in the habit of making promises that cannot be fulfilled. Where there are outstanding issues, we will give realistic timelines and ensure they are implemented,” the minister said.
He added that eligible federal workers would begin receiving the outstanding wage award once the final approval process is completed.
“The necessary release for payment of the outstanding wage award is being concluded, and we are confident that eligible public servants will begin receiving the payment before the middle of the month,” Oyedele stated.
Promotion Arrears Also Being Processed
The minister also disclosed that outstanding promotion arrears are being processed in line with established procedures.
He directed officials of the ministry to review all submissions presented by the labour union, engage relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and accelerate action on unresolved workers’ welfare issues.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, pledged closer collaboration with organised labour to ensure approved workers’ entitlements are processed without unnecessary delays.
Similarly, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, revealed that Batch 7 promotion arrears, which were omitted during an earlier payment exercise, are now being processed alongside Batch 9.
He also said the government was working with relevant agencies to resolve issues relating to the payment of the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding labour-related claims.
Providing an update on the payment process, Director of Cash Management, Christiana Osho, confirmed that reconciliation of the outstanding wage award had been completed and that payments would commence immediately after the final release of funds.
Labour Urges Swift Action
Earlier, JPSNC President Kabiru Ado Minjibir urged the Federal Government to expedite payment of outstanding workers’ entitlements, including the wage award, promotion arrears, salary relativity for health workers and other unresolved welfare issues.
He noted that prompt implementation of the government’s commitments would strengthen industrial harmony and boost workers’ confidence in the administration.
The latest assurance comes days after the Negotiating Council requested an urgent meeting with the Finance Minister over delays in paying the remaining wage award instalments and implementing the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance, warning that continued delays could trigger industrial unrest.
President Bola Tinubu approved the N35,000 monthly provisional wage award for federal workers in October 2023 as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal and rising living costs, pending the conclusion of negotiations on a new national minimum wage.
Although payments began in late 2023, implementation later became irregular, leaving several months of arrears outstanding. In April 2025, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation announced that the remaining five months would be paid in phases.
