The Federal Government has assured federal civil servants that payment of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears will begin before the middle of August, while efforts are also underway to clear pending promotion arrears.
The assurance was given during a meeting between the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and leaders of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Trade Side, led by its National President, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, in Abuja.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie, said the government was in the final stages of releasing funds for the wage award.
According to the statement, eligible public servants are expected to begin receiving the outstanding payments before mid-August, while promotion arrears are being processed in line with existing procedures.
Oyedele said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to fulfilling agreements reached with organised labour, stressing that the government had already started addressing several of the issues raised by workers before receiving their formal communication.
He said the administration would continue to provide realistic timelines for unresolved matters and ensure they were implemented as promised.
The minister directed officials of the ministry to immediately review submissions made by the labour union, engage relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and accelerate action on pending workers’ welfare issues.
He also acknowledged concerns over delays in implementing previous agreements but said the government was determined to strengthen trust through regular engagement and transparency.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, pledged closer collaboration with organised labour to ensure approved workers’ benefits were processed without unnecessary delays.
He said the ministry would continue working with relevant government institutions to fast-track the resolution of outstanding labour matters and sustain industrial harmony through dialogue.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, disclosed that Batch 7 promotion arrears, which had been omitted from an earlier payment exercise, were now being processed alongside Batch 9.
He added that the government was also engaging relevant agencies to resolve issues relating to the payment of the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding claims.
The Director of Cash Management, Christiana Osho, said reconciliation of the outstanding wage award had been completed and that payment would commence once the final release of funds was approved. She added that promotion arrears would continue to be processed according to the approved schedule.
Earlier, JPSNC President Kabiru Ado Minjibir urged the government to urgently settle outstanding workers’ entitlements, including wage award arrears, promotion arrears, salary relativity for health workers and other unresolved welfare issues.
He said prompt implementation of the outstanding commitments would improve workers’ confidence in government and help maintain industrial peace.
The latest assurance comes amid growing pressure from organised labour over delays in implementing welfare agreements.
President Bola Tinubu approved the N35,000 monthly wage award in October 2023 as a temporary measure to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and rising living costs pending negotiations on a new national minimum wage.
Although payments began later that year, implementation became inconsistent, leaving several months unpaid. In April 2025, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation announced that the outstanding months would be settled in phases after workers received their April salaries.
The renewed commitment also follows a recent demand by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council for an urgent meeting with the finance minister before August 11 over delayed wage award payments and the implementation of the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance, warning that prolonged delays could trigger industrial unrest.
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