The federal government has commenced payment of February 2026 salaries to treasury-funded workers and will start clearing the outstanding three months’ wage award arrears from March.
The move follows pressure from organised labour, which had issued a Friday deadline demanding the immediate release of funds to settle pending wage awards and allowances owed to workers across ministries, departments, and agencies. The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union side) warned that failure to meet the February 27 ultimatum would prompt decisive action by the eight civil service unions.
In a statement on Monday, the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) said the delay in February salary payments was due to a technical hitch, which has now been resolved. The OAGF also confirmed that approval has been received to pay one month of the three-month wage award arrears.
Finance Minister Wale Edun, in a post on X, outlined the government’s schedule for clearing arrears. The May 2024 wage award will be paid alongside February salaries, June 2024 arrears after March salaries, and July 2024 arrears after April salaries.
The development comes hours after a meeting between the federal government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), convened by Labour Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, amid threats from labour to picket the Ministry of Finance over outstanding payments.
