The Federal Government has released the second installment of the N35,000 wage arrears to federal workers, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation confirmed on Friday.

In a statement from Abuja signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, the OAGF explained that this payment is part of continuous efforts to clear the five-month wage arrears owed to federal employees.

“The Federal Government has paid the second tranche of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears to federal government workers,” the statement read.

It further explained that the first tranche, covering one month, was paid earlier this year, with three more monthly installments remaining to complete the payment cycle.

“With the payment of the second tranche, there remain three tranches to exhaust the wage award arrears,” the statement said.

The OAGF also responded to public concerns and rumors suggesting the Federal Government had abandoned the arrears.

It firmly rejected these claims, assuring civil servants of the government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations.

“Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the Federal Government has not reneged on payment of the wage award arrears,” the statement emphasised.

The wage award, negotiated in 2023 as part of a palliative package following the fuel subsidy removal, is being paid in monthly installments of N35,000 over five months.

It was designed to help ease the impact of inflation and rising living costs on public sector workers.

The OAGF stated that the Federal Government remains committed to completing the payments as scheduled.