Federal Government Initiates Payment of ₦35,000 Wage Award Arrears to Civil Servants

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the disbursement of the long-awaited ₦35,000 wage award arrears to federal civil servants across the country. This initiative aims to alleviate the economic hardships faced by workers due to recent policy reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies.

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) announced that many federal employees have already received the first installment of the arrears, with others expected to receive theirs in the coming days. The payments are structured in five monthly installments of ₦35,000, totaling ₦175,000 per beneficiary.

In response to reports suggesting that the wage award was excluded from the 2025 national budget, the OAGF clarified that the Accountant General, Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, never made such a statement. The office emphasized its commitment to fulfilling all agreements related to staff remuneration and welfare.

This payment follows months of advocacy by labor unions and civil servants, who have been urging the government to honor its promise. The wage award was introduced as a palliative measure to cushion the economic impact of subsidy removal and other fiscal adjustments.

The OAGF assured that all outstanding arrears would be settled promptly, reaffirming the government’s dedication to enhancing the welfare of its workforce.