FG Commences Payment of N35,000 Wage Award Arrears to Employees

The federal government has begun paying the long-awaited N35,000 wage award arrears to its employees, fulfilling a key part of its commitment to support workers amid prevailing economic challenges.

The payment, which is being made in five instalments of N35,000 each, is expected to bring relief to thousands of federal government employees who have been waiting for the arrears.

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) on Monday, many federal government employees have already received the first tranche of the payment, while others who are yet to be credited will receive theirs shortly.

The total amount to be paid to each beneficiary is N175,000.

The payment of the wage award arrears is a significant development, as it demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to supporting its employees during a period of economic uncertainty.

The government has been under pressure to pay the arrears, which were awarded to employees as part of a wage increase package.

In a related development, the OAGF has dismissed reports circulating in some sections of the media suggesting that the N35,000 wage award had been excluded from the 2025 Budget.

The Office clarified that at no point did the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, make such a claim.

“There was no press briefing by the Accountant General on the matter of wage award,” the statement read. “Any report quoting him as excluding the N35,000 from the 2025 budget is entirely false.”

The payment of the wage award arrears is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, as it will put more money in the pockets of federal government employees and boost consumer spending. The federal government has been working to implement measures to support its employees and stimulate economic growth, and the payment of the wage award arrears is a key part of these efforts.