File photo: Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele

The Federal Government has assured federal civil servants that payment of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears will commence before the middle of August, saying the necessary release for the exercise is at the final stage, while outstanding promotion arrears are also being processed.

The assurance came 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.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, gave the 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.

This 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.

The statement read, “The Federal Government has assured public servants that the outstanding wage award will be paid before the middle of August, while promotion arrears are being processed as part of ongoing efforts to fulfil its commitments to workers.”

The minister said the administration had already begun addressing several of the issues raised by labour even before receiving its formal communication, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to honouring agreements reached with workers.

He said, “When government makes commitments, it delivers. We are not in the habit of making promises that cannot be fulfilled. Where there are outstanding issues, we will give realistic timelines and ensure they are implemented.”

Oyedele 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.

He stated, “The necessary release for payment of the outstanding wage award is being concluded, and we are confident that eligible public servants will begin receiving the payment before the middle of the month.”

The minister also assured labour leaders that the government was processing outstanding promotion arrears in accordance with established procedures.

He directed officials of the ministry to immediately review all submissions presented by the council, engage relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and fast-track action on unresolved labour issues.

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.

He said, “Our objective is to build a system where issues are resolved proactively. We want workers to have confidence that once government gives its word, it will honour that commitment.”

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

He said the ministry would continue to work with relevant government institutions to accelerate the resolution of pending labour issues.

“The ministry will continue to engage relevant government institutions to fast-track the resolution of outstanding labour issues, stressing that constructive dialogue remains the most effective path to sustaining industrial harmony,” he said.

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

He expressed confidence that affected workers would begin receiving their entitlements once processing was completed.

Danjuma added that government was also working with relevant agencies to resolve issues surrounding the payment of the Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding labour-related claims.

Providing an update on the payment process, the Director of Cash Management, Christiana Osho, said reconciliation of the outstanding wage award had been completed.

She explained that the payment release was at its final stage and 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.

Earlier, the President of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, urged the Federal Government to expedite action on pending workers’ entitlements.

He identified the outstanding wage award, promotion arrears, salary relativity for health workers and other unresolved welfare issues as matters requiring urgent attention.

According to him, timely implementation of the outstanding commitments would strengthen industrial harmony and boost workers’ confidence in the government’s commitment to their welfare.

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

The PUNCH recalls that President Bola Tinubu 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 rising cost of living.

The wage award, which was 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.

Although payments began in late 2023, implementation became irregular, leaving several months outstanding.

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.

The first tranche was paid in May 2025, followed by the second tranche in August 2025, leaving the remaining instalments to be settled in phases.

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.

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.

In a letter addressed to the minister and signed by the National Secretary of the council, Gbenga Olowoyo, on behalf of the National Chairman, Benjamin Yanto, the union expressed disappointment that two previous letters on the matter had received no response.

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.

It said, “The national leadership expects that this meeting will help to address the above-stated outstanding issues to prevent palpable disquiet and the brewing industrial crisis.”