Government aims to settle remaining salary bonuses by mid-August

The Federal Government has given federal civil servants an assurance that the payment of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears will commence before the middle of August, with the necessary release for the exercise at its final stage, and outstanding promotion arrears also being processed.

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This assurance was given amid renewed concerns by organised labour over delays in the implementation of workers’ welfare agreements, including unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears, and salary-related allowances.

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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, provided this assurance during a meeting with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Side, led by its National President, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, in Abuja.

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This information was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie, which stated that the Federal Government had assured public servants that the outstanding wage award would be paid before the middle of August, while promotion arrears were being processed.

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According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to honouring agreements reached with workers, and has already begun addressing several issues raised by labour even before receiving its formal communication.

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Oyedele stated that when the government makes commitments, it delivers, and that it is not in the habit of making promises that cannot be fulfilled, adding that where there are outstanding issues, the government will give realistic timelines and ensure they are implemented.

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The minister disclosed that the approval process for the release of funds had reached its concluding stage, and expressed confidence that eligible workers would begin receiving the outstanding wage award before the middle of August.

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He said that the necessary release for payment of the outstanding wage award is being concluded, and that the government is confident that eligible public servants will begin receiving the payment before the middle of the month.

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The minister also assured labour leaders that the government is processing outstanding promotion arrears in accordance with established procedures, and directed officials of the ministry to immediately review all submissions presented by the council.

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Oyedele acknowledged concerns expressed by organised labour over delays in implementing previous agreements, but said the government would continue to build confidence through transparency and regular engagement.

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He stated that the government's objective is to build a system where issues are resolved proactively, and that it wants workers to have confidence that once the government gives its word, it will honour that commitment.

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The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, pledged closer collaboration with organised labour to ensure approved workers’ entitlements are processed without unnecessary delays.

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Omachi said the ministry would continue to work with relevant government institutions to accelerate the resolution of pending labour issues, stressing that constructive dialogue remains the most effective path to sustaining industrial harmony.

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Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, disclosed that Batch 7 promotion arrears, which were omitted during an earlier payment exercise, were now being processed alongside Batch 9.

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Danjuma expressed confidence that affected workers would begin receiving their entitlements once processing was completed, and added that the government was also working with relevant agencies to resolve issues surrounding the payment of the Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding labour-related claims.

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Providing an update on the payment process, the Director of Cash Management, Christiana Osho, said reconciliation of the outstanding wage award had been completed, and that the payment release was at its final stage.

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She explained that eligible workers would begin receiving the arrears immediately after the release was effected, while processing of promotion arrears would continue according to the approved schedule.

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Earlier, the President of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, urged the Federal Government to expedite action on pending workers’ entitlements, including the outstanding wage award, promotion arrears, salary relativity for health workers, and other unresolved welfare issues.

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Minjibir stated that timely implementation of the outstanding commitments would strengthen industrial harmony and boost workers’ confidence in the government’s commitment to their welfare.

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Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration to ensure the prompt resolution of outstanding labour issues across the federal public service.

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President Bola Tinubu had approved a N35,000 monthly provisional wage award for Federal Government workers in October 2023 as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy and the rising cost of living.

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The wage award, agreed with organised labour to avert a nationwide strike, was initially approved for six months, pending the conclusion of negotiations on a new national minimum wage, and although payments began in late 2023, implementation became irregular, leaving several months outstanding.

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In April 2025, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation announced that the five outstanding months would be paid in instalments of N35,000 each after workers received their April salaries, with the first tranche paid in May 2025, and the second tranche in August 2025.

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The new assurance comes days after the Negotiating Council urged the minister to convene an urgent meeting over the delayed payment of two months’ wage award and the implementation of the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance for federal workers.

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The union said it was seeking an audience with the minister on or before August 11, warning that failure to resolve the issues could spark unrest among public servants, and in a letter addressed to the minister, the union expressed disappointment that two previous letters on the matter had received no response.

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According to the JNPSNC, the requested meeting was intended to find an amicable resolution to workers’ outstanding welfare demands and avert what it described as a “brewing industrial crisis”, stating that the national leadership expects the meeting to address the outstanding issues and prevent palpable disquiet and the brewing industrial crisis.