The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of the second tranche of the N35,000 wage award arrears to civil servants across the country, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed on Thursday.
In a statement issued by the Director of Press at the OAGF, Mr. Bayo Olaleye, the office said the payment follows the government’s commitment to honor agreements reached with organized labour to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and inflation on workers.
According to the statement, the payment covers another round of the outstanding wage award arrears approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 as part of palliative measures to support federal workers during the economic transition period.
“This payment represents the second tranche of the N35,000 wage award arrears and is being disbursed to eligible workers under the consolidated public sector payroll. The government remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to Nigerian workers,” Olaleye said.
He added that the payment process is being handled in batches to ensure accuracy, transparency, and avoid duplication.
The OAGF also urged civil servants to exercise patience as the payment hits individual accounts in phases due to banking and processing timelines.
The N35,000 wage award was originally announced as a temporary relief for federal workers in October 2023, with the government pledging to pay it for a six-month period. However, delays in implementation and backlog payments had sparked repeated agitations by labour unions.
Reacting to the latest payment, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) acknowledged receipt of the second tranche but demanded full settlement of all outstanding arrears and immediate commencement of talks on a new minimum wage.
“We welcome the disbursement, but we urge the Federal Government not to relent. Workers have endured months of hardship, and all outstanding payments must be cleared without further delay,” NLC spokesman Benson Uche said.
The development comes amid ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and labour unions on a revised national minimum wage, with the current N30,000 wage deemed grossly inadequate due to the rising cost of living.
As of press time, workers in several ministries, departments, and agencies confirmed receiving the payment, though others reported delays attributed to payroll verification.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to social welfare and fiscal transparency, assuring that all wage-related obligations would be met in due course.
