At the federal level, workers in various ministries and agencies reported seeing their January wages hit their bank accounts over the weekend. The Minister of State for Finance personally confirmed receiving her own salary last Friday, signaling the commencement of payments. "The funds have been released and payments are processing through the banking system," the minister noted, while clarifying that state governments operate independently regarding their payroll schedules.
The revenue distribution saw the federal government receive ₦653.5 billion, with states collectively getting ₦706.4 billion and local governments sharing ₦513.2 billion. Additional allocations included ₦96 billion for oil-producing states under the derivation principle. The massive payout came from multiple revenue streams - ₦846.5 billion from VAT collections, ₦1.631 trillion from statutory sources, and ₦38.1 billion generated through electronic transaction levies.
In Abuja, workers across various federal establishments including the judiciary, budget office, and FCT administration confirmed successful salary payments. Meanwhile, several states including Oyo, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Bayelsa and Edo reported completing their salary obligations. Edo State officials emphasized their financial independence, noting they'd prepared for salary payments regardless of federal disbursement timelines.
However, the payment situation appears uneven across states. Kwara State employees expressed concern as their salaries - typically paid by the 26th of each month - remained outstanding. Local union leaders suggested budget-related delays might be responsible, expressing hope for resolution in the coming week. The mixed reports highlight the varying payroll management approaches across different tiers of government despite the centralized revenue distribution system.
