The workers, who spoke on Monday in Abuja, expressed frustration over the delay, saying the unpaid arrears have worsened the financial strain on many government employees already grappling with rising inflation and the escalating cost of living across the country.
The ₦35,000 wage award was introduced by the Federal Government in 2023 as a temporary cost-of-living support for federal workers while negotiations for a new national minimum wage were ongoing.
However, the implementation has been characterized by delays and staggered payments, leaving many workers dissatisfied.
Speaking on the development, Ibrahim Abbas, a medical worker in the federal service, said the delay in settling the outstanding arrears was difficult to justify considering the economic hardship workers currently face.
According to him, the wage award was meant to provide immediate relief to civil servants struggling with the rising cost of transportation, food, and other basic necessities.
“The condition of government workers has never been this challenging. Many civil servants depend heavily on this wage award to cushion the impact of the current economic realities,” Abbas said.
He nevertheless acknowledged the recent payment of the third tranche of the wage award, describing it as a welcome development, but insisted that the remaining arrears must be settled without further delay.
Another civil servant, Patrick Ugo, urged the government to include the outstanding ₦70,000 arrears in the March salary payment to help workers cope with mounting financial obligations.
He argued that the newly approved ₦70,000 national minimum wage remains insufficient in addressing the growing economic pressure on workers, stressing that the wage award was designed to serve as temporary relief.
“The government must understand the realities workers are facing. Paying the outstanding two months arrears together with the March salary will greatly ease the burden on civil servants,” he said.
Similarly, Sule Aliu called on the government to consider making the ₦35,000 wage award a permanent addition to workers’ salaries, noting that such a policy could significantly improve the welfare of federal employees.
Aliu added that the continuous rise in prices of essential commodities has eroded the purchasing power of workers, making additional financial support necessary.
Another civil servant, Sani Garba, warned that persistent delays in fulfilling financial obligations to workers could trigger labour unrest if not addressed promptly.
Garba urged the government to demonstrate commitment to workers’ welfare by ensuring timely implementation of salary-related policies.
Reports indicate that the Federal Government had earlier promised to clear five months of the outstanding wage award arrears through installment payments of ₦35,000 monthly.
According to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), the government had already paid several installments, with the third tranche recently disbursed earlier in March.
However, the payment schedule has been inconsistent. After the first installment was paid in May 2025, the second tranche was not released until August 2025, while the third installment was only recently paid.
As a result, two months of the wage award—amounting to ₦70,000—remain outstanding.
Reacting to concerns over the delay, Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General, assured workers that the government has not abandoned its commitment to clearing the arrears.
Mokwa explained that the government would continue paying the remaining balance in installments of ₦35,000 per month until the outstanding arrears are fully settled, noting that the process depends largely on the availability of funds.
He further reiterated that the Federal Government remains committed to implementing policies aimed at improving the welfare of workers and enhancing productivity in the public service.
Despite the assurances, many civil servants insist that prompt payment of the remaining arrears has become urgent as economic pressures continue to weigh heavily on households across the country.
