FG commences payment of February salary, blames technical glitch for delay

The federal government says it has commenced payment of February 2026 salaries to treasury-funded workers and will begin clearing the outstanding three months’ wage award arrears from March.

Few days ago, the organised labour in the federal public service issued a Friday deadline to the federal government, demanding the immediate release of funds to settle three months’ outstanding wage awards and other pending allowances owed to workers across ministries, departments and agencies.

The leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union side) conveyed the ultimatum in a letter addressed to the federal ministry of labour and employment, warning that failure to meet the February 27 deadline would compel the eight unions in the civil service to take decisive action.

The unions accused the government of withholding funds meant for workers, alleging that relevant agencies were prepared to process payments once the ministry of finance released the required funds.

In a statement issued by the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF) on Monday, the government said payment of February salaries began on Monday.

The OAGF attributed the delay in salary payment to a technical hitch.

“The delay in the payment of the February 2026 salaries was due to technical hitch, which has been tackled, and necessary measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence,” the statement said.

The office also said that it has received approval and concluded the process for the payment of one month wage award arrears out of the three months outstanding.

The development comes hours after Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, announced plans to clear the arrears following a meeting between the federal government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

In a post on X on Monday, by the ministry of labour, Edun said the May 2024 wage award arrears will be paid alongside workers’ February salaries.

“The May 2024 wage award will be paid together with the February salary. The June 2024 arrears will be paid after the March salary, while the July 2024 arrears will be settled after the April salary,” he said.

The meeting was convened by Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment, amid labour’s threat to picket the ministry of finance over the outstanding payments. (The Cable)