The federal government has ordered the immediate payment of all outstanding wage awards to public servants before the middle of August.

In a statement on Wednesday, Efe Ovuakporie, head of information and public relations in the Ministry of Finance, said Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, gave the directive during a meeting with labour leaders in Abuja today.

According to NAN, the labour leaders were led by Kabiru Minjibir, national president of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC).

Oyedele said the government had already begun addressing several labour concerns before receiving the council’s formal communication.

He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to fulfilling promises to Nigerian workers through constructive engagement and dialogue.

“The objective is to build confidence by ensuring the government honours every commitment made,” he said.

The minister said the release for payment of the outstanding wage award was at its final stage and expressed confidence that eligible workers would begin receiving payments before mid-August.

Oyedele directed relevant officials to review the council’s submissions and fast-track action on all outstanding matters.

He also acknowledged concerns over implementation delays and pledged greater transparency, consultation and prompt action.

The government further assured workers that outstanding promotion arrears were being processed in line with approved procedures.

Also speaking, Raymond Omachi, permanent secretary of the ministry, pledged closer collaboration with organised labour and said approved entitlements would be processed without avoidable delays.

Mohammed Danjuma, his counterpart in charge of special duties, said progress had been made on workers’ entitlements.

He added that batch seven promotion arrears, previously omitted, were being processed alongside batch nine.

Danjuma said the government was also working with relevant agencies to address peculiar allowances and other labour-related issues.

Christiana Osho, director of cash management, added that reconciliation for the outstanding wage award had been completed and that payment release was at its final stage.

Responding, Minjibir urged the government to resolve pending labour issues without further delay.

He listed outstanding wage awards, promotion arrears, salary relativity for health workers and peculiar allowance among the unresolved issues.

He said timely implementation would strengthen industrial harmony and boost workers’ confidence in government.

The development reportedly puts on hold the JNPSNC’s August 11 ultimatum to the minister’s office over unresolved workers’ welfare issues following a last-minute agreement reached at the meeting.

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