FG to Begin Payment of ₦35,000 Wage Award Arrears to Civil Servants
By IDNN Staff | April 29, 2025
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has announced it will commence the payment of ₦35,000 wage award arrears owed to federal civil servants, with disbursements to be made in five monthly instalments.
The update was confirmed in an official statement issued on Monday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), and signed by Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa.
According to the statement, each tranche of the arrears will be paid monthly at ₦35,000 per worker, beginning immediately after the April 2025 salary is processed.
“The wage award arrears would not be paid with the April 2025 salary; it will come immediately after the salary is paid,” the statement clarified.
Background on the Wage Award
The ₦35,000 monthly wage award was introduced in 2023 as a palliative measure to cushion the economic impact of the fuel subsidy removal and related fiscal reforms.
Although payments were initially made for five months, an additional five-month backlog remained unpaid. The government has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to honouring this obligation.
Earlier this year, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, reiterated the government’s resolve to fulfil agreements reached with Organised Labour during talks over the National Minimum Wage negotiations.
⚖️ Labour Tensions and Delays
The move follows growing criticism from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other labour unions, who had accused the government of reneging on agreements and delaying the payment of both wage awards and minimum wage adjustments.
Federal authorities attributed the delay to prolonged approval of the 2025 budget, which slowed disbursements across multiple ministries and departments.
🏛️ Government Position
The OAGF reassured civil servants that the administration remains committed to full implementation of wage policies, stressing that these efforts are aimed at improving productivity and welfare across the federal workforce.
“The government is fully committed to implementing all agreements relating to staff remuneration,” the statement read, emphasizing that wage reforms are a priority.
