The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially commenced the disbursement of five-month arrears for the ₦35,000 wage award to its civil servants, with payments beginning in late May 2025.
This update comes amid nationwide anticipation following government clarification that the ₦70,000 new minimum wage has been fully implemented across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
In an exclusive interview with LMSINT MEDIA on Monday, Bawa Mokwa, Director of Media in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, confirmed the development ahead of the resumption of public service work after the Eid-Al-Adha break.
It will be recalled that during a Sallah day interview on Arise Television, Benson Upah, spokesperson for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), sharply criticized the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for delays in fulfilling wage-related commitments.
Upah described the persistent delay in payments as deeply disappointing, labeling it a “betrayal of trust” and “utterly disgraceful.”
“This is a betrayal of trust and an abuse of our patience,” Upah said. “It’s completely unacceptable.”
Responding to these criticisms, Mokwa explained that the government had already initiated payment for the wage award arrears, beginning with the first month and with plans to settle the remaining four months in phases.
“We have started paying the ₦35,000 wage award arrears,” Mokwa confirmed. “Some agencies like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have made arrangements to handle their wage awards independently. But for others, payment will be spread across four months.”
Mokwa further explained that the wage award was initially introduced as a temporary intervention by the federal government before the approval of the new minimum wage policy. Although Labour had argued that implementation was delayed, resulting in five months of outstanding payments, the government is now actively settling them.
On the subject of minimum wage implementation, Mokwa stated:
“Regarding the ₦70,000 minimum wage, it has been implemented comprehensively across all federal institutions.”
Efforts by LMSINT MEDIA to get further reaction from Benson Upah were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.
It’s worth noting that President Bola Tinubu signed the Minimum Wage Bill into law in July 2024. However, despite this legislative approval, concerns remain about full execution, especially at the state government level, nearly a year later.
Related News
- Arise News Interview with Benson Upah – Arise TV
- Nigeria Labour Congress Official Site
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment
- Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation
- National Minimum Wage Act – Legal Review (Nigerian Law Today)
Kindly Share:
Discover more from LMSINT STORE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
