The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to settle outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears owed to federal civil servants, addressing long-standing financial commitments to public sector workers.

In a statement released Monday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, confirmed that the payments will be disbursed in installments.

Civil servants are slated to receive N35,000 monthly over a five-month period, clearing the backlog.

OAGF confirmed that while the April 2025 salary will be disbursed as a separate payment, the first installment of the wage award arrears will be released immediately afterward.

“The wage award arrears would not be paid with the April 2025 salary; it will come immediately after the salary is paid,” the statement read.

The Federal Government had disbursed wage awards to federal workers for five months as part of measures to mitigate the impact of recent economic reforms.

However, five months of arrears remain unpaid.

The OAGF reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fully implementing all policies and agreements concerning staff remuneration and welfare.

These efforts, the OAGF noted, are aimed at boosting productivity and operational efficiency across ministries, departments, and agencies.

The N35,000 wage award was introduced in 2023 as a palliative measure to support workers following the removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic adjustments.

Earlier in January this year, the Federal Government assured workers that it would clear the arrears of the N35,000 wage award, just as it also said the government had resumed the payment of the wage award.

The government also reiterated its commitment to resolving pending issues related to the 2023 National Minimum Wage agreement reached with Organised Labour.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emphasized the government’s dedication to fulfilling its agreements with trade unions during separate meetings with the Trade Union Congress and the Congress of University Academics in Abuja.

Earlier this month, the Nigeria Labour Congress criticized the Federal Government for failing to promptly implement the new minimum wage for some federal civil servants.

In response, the government attributed the delay to the prolonged approval process of the 2025 budget, which has hindered the release of funds.