The federal government of Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, has commenced the payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears to federal civil servants, bringing a wave of jubilation among the workers. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed this development, stating that many government employees had already received credit alerts as of Monday, May 26, 2025, with others expected to receive theirs in due course.

Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, announced that the payments are being made in monthly installments of N35,000 for a period of five months. This wage award was a crucial component of a palliative package negotiated in 2023 with labour unions, following the removal of the fuel subsidy and the subsequent naira devaluation. The government has assured that all outstanding payments will be fully disbursed accordingly.

The OAGF also took the opportunity to address and refute certain media reports. Mokwa clarified that the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, never stated that the N35,000 wage award was excluded from the N54.99 trillion 2025 National Budget. The statement emphasized that Mr. Ogunjimi had not briefed the press on this specific matter, contrary to what some online media outlets had reported, and reiterated the government's commitment to settling all arrears as promised.

This move fulfills the government's promise, particularly after announcing its readiness to pay the outstanding five months of the N35,000 salary wage award arrears following the April 2025 salary payments. The initiative is expected to significantly help federal workers cushion the harsh economic impact of rising food inflation and high energy costs. Olugbenga Odutola, a civil servant, expressed his appreciation for the government's action, describing it as a genuine show of commitment that would ease financial pressure on workers. He noted that beyond individual relief, the payment would inject more money into circulation, stimulate spending, and boost economic activity, thereby strengthening the relationship between workers and the government and promoting trust and productivity.

In related developments concerning workers' welfare, the federal government, through the OAGF, also confirmed its intention to begin paying the new national minimum wage in 2025. The national minimum wage bill was signed into law in July 2024, but its implementation was delayed due to financial constraints. Several states, including Sokoto, Rivers, Edo, Lagos, Kogi, and Ogun, have already commenced full implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, with other states expected to follow suit. This, coupled with the wage award, is anticipated to bring some relief to civil servants in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Lagos State, through its Chairman Funmi Sessi, clarified that the N35,000 wage award is distinct from the N70,000 new minimum wage. Sessi emphasized that the wage award does not reflect on the allowances of civil servants in Lagos State. This highlights ongoing discussions and distinctions between federal palliative measures and state-level minimum wage implementations.