In a statement issued on Monday, the OAGF disclosed that it had received the necessary approval and concluded the process of paying one month out of the three outstanding wage awards owed to federal civil servants.
The development follows sustained pressure from organised labour, which had issued an ultimatum demanding the immediate release of funds to clear three months of unpaid wage awards and other outstanding allowances.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) had warned in a letter to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that failure to meet its deadline would trigger decisive action by the eight civil service unions.
However, in what appears to be a swift response to the mounting tension, the OAGF confirmed that payment of the approved wage award has been processed.
The office also addressed concerns over delayed February salaries, attributing the setback to a technical glitch. According to the statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, the issue has been resolved and salary payments commenced on Monday, March 2, 2026.
The wage award dispute, which has lingered since the Federal Government approved a N70,000 minimum wage following the removal of fuel subsidy, has remained a major source of hardship for workers. Labour leaders had accused the government of withholding funds meant for employees, insisting that relevant agencies were ready to process payments once funds were released.
With the commencement of salary payments and partial clearance of wage arrears, attention now turns to the settlement of the remaining two months outstanding as workers await full compliance from the authorities.
