FG Promises Wage Award Payment by Mid-August

The Federal Government has assured public servants that the outstanding wage award will be paid before the middle of August, while promotion arrears are also being processed as part of ongoing efforts to fulfil commitments made to workers. The assurance is expected to strengthen confidence among employees awaiting the long-overdue payments.

During a meeting with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Trade Side, led by Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, said the government had already started addressing many of the issues raised by the Council even before receiving its formal communication.

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, Oyedele 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”.

He explained that the necessary approval for the outstanding wage award is in its final stage and expressed confidence that eligible public servants would begin receiving payment before the middle of the month. He also confirmed that promotion arrears are receiving the required attention, with outstanding batches currently being processed through the appropriate channels.

The minister directed relevant officials to review all documents submitted by the JPSNC, work closely with affected Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and speed up action on unresolved labour matters. He added that the government remains committed to resolving workers’ concerns through regular dialogue, transparency and timely implementation of agreements.

Also speaking, Christiana Osho, Director of the Cash Management Department at the Federal Ministry of Finance, disclosed that reconciliation for the outstanding wage award has been completed and that the payment release is now at its final stage.

Do you think the timely payment of wage awards and promotion arrears will improve confidence and productivity in Nigeria’s public service?