The federal government of Nigeria says it has commenced payment of five-month wage award arrears of N35,000 to civil servants.

 

It said the payment commenced since the end of May 2025.

 

The clarification came from the Director of Media, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa.

 

He was responding to spokesman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Benson Upah, who berated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the delay in payment of wage awards and allowances.

 

He described the delay as a “betrayal of trust” and “shameful”.

 

However Mokwa told Daily Post that the government has kicked off the payment of the arrears of the wage award.

 

“We have commenced the payment of N35,000 wage arrears.

 

“Except for some agencies that are independently paying for the wage award, for example, the Independent National Electoral Commission.

 

“The N35,000 wage award was an interim solution by the federal government before the N70,000 minimum wage approval.

 

“This was done in five months, but Labour argued that the payment didn’t commence immediately, having a five-month arrears.

 

“Of the five months, we have paid the first month. Four months are remaining, which would be paid in installments.

 

“On the minimum wage pay, it has been implemented across the board,” he stated.

 

These claims have not been verified as of the time of filing this report.