Federal civil servants in Nigeria are expressing frustration over the delayed payment of arrears from the N35,000 wage award, which was introduced to cushion the effects of economic hardship. The award, a temporary measure approved in 2023 to supplement salaries during the negotiation of a new national minimum wage, has faced significant payment delays.
According to civil servants who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, the delay is unacceptable, especially given the current economic conditions. Ibrahim Abbas, one of the civil servants, emphasized that there is no justifiable reason for the prolonged delay in clearing the three months’ arrears, amounting to N105,000. He stressed that the money is urgently needed to alleviate the financial strain on government workers.
Another civil servant, Patrick Ugo, urged the Federal Government to pay the outstanding arrears without further delay, highlighting that the current minimum wage of N70,000 is unrealistic. He suggested that the wage award would provide workers with some relief and advocated for the payment of the arrears with the January salaries.
The Federal Government had announced in April 2025 that it would pay the outstanding five months of the N35,000 wage award arrears to workers in installments. However, after paying the first installment in May 2025 and the second in August 2025, no further payments have been made, leaving an outstanding balance of three months.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has assured that the Federal Government is committed to clearing the remaining arrears without delay, subject to the availability of funds. Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, clarified that the payment is ongoing and that the government has not reneged on its commitment to pay the wage award arrears.
The delayed payment of the wage award arrears has led to frustration among labour unions, which have been demanding full implementation and clearance of the outstanding amounts. The Federal Government’s commitment to paying the arrears is crucial to alleviating the financial pressure on civil servants and enhancing productivity and efficiency in the public sector. With the payment of the second tranche in August 2025, the government aims to exhaust the wage award arrears in the remaining installments.
