Federal civil servants have faulted the continued delay in paying the outstanding three months of the ₦35,000 wage award arrears, describing the situation as unacceptable amid worsening economic hardship.
The workers expressed their concerns on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to the non-payment of the arrears, which amount to ₦105,000, despite earlier assurances by the Federal Government that all outstanding payments would be cleared.
Speaking in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the civil servants said the delay was further straining their finances and undermining the purpose of the wage award, which was introduced to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
One of the workers, Mr. Ibrahim Abbas, said there was no justifiable reason for the Federal Government to delay the payment of the three months’ arrears, noting that the funds were urgently needed to help workers cope with the rising cost of living.
“The condition of government workers has never been this bad. The Federal Government needs to take all necessary steps to clear the outstanding three months’ arrears of the wage award,” Mr. Abbas said.
Another civil servant, Mr. Patrick Ugo, also urged the Federal Government to pay the arrears without further delay. He noted that the current minimum wage of ₦70,000 was no longer realistic given prevailing economic realities, adding that the wage award would at least provide temporary relief.
“I urge the Federal Government, through the Accountant-General of the Federation, to pay the outstanding three months, totalling ₦105,000, along with the January salaries,” Mr. Ugo said.
Similarly, Mr. Sule Aliu appealed to the Federal Government to make the ₦35,000 wage award a permanent addition to workers’ monthly salaries, saying this would significantly ease the financial pressure faced by civil servants nationwide.
The wage award was introduced in 2023 as a temporary measure to support workers following the removal of fuel subsidy. It was designed as a cost-of-living adjustment while negotiations on a new national minimum wage were ongoing. However, delays in payment have fuelled growing frustration among workers and labour unions.
In April 2025, the Federal Government announced that it would clear five months of outstanding ₦35,000 wage award arrears. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had earlier disclosed that five months of the wage award had already been paid in instalments, with the remaining arrears to be settled at the rate of ₦35,000 per month.
According to the office, the first instalment was paid in May 2025, while the second was paid in August 2025. No further payments have been made since then, leaving three months unpaid and an outstanding balance of ₦105,000.
Reacting to the concerns, the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to clearing the remaining arrears. Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, said the payments were subject to the availability of funds.
Mr. Mokwa explained that following the payment of the second tranche in August, three instalments remained outstanding.
“Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the Federal Government has not reneged on the payment of the wage award arrears,” he said.
“The Federal Government will continue to pay the wage award in instalments of ₦35,000 per month until the outstanding arrears are fully exhausted.”
