FG Promises Mid-August Wage Award Release, Moves on Promotion Arrears
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has promised public servants across the country that the outstanding wage award will be disbursed before the middle of August, as authorities finalize the processing of long-overdue promotion arrears to fulfill core commitments to the nation’s workforce.
The commitment came during a high-level meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Trade Side, led by its National President, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of the Information and Public Relations Unit at the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Efe Ovuakporie, the government had initiated action on several union demands prior to receiving formal correspondence, reflecting a proactive approach to resolving legitimate worker concerns through constructive dialogue.
“When government makes commitments, it delivers,” Oyedele stated during the meeting. “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.”
The Minister explained that the required financial releases for the outstanding wage award are in their final stages, clearing the way for eligible civil servants to receive their funds before mid-August. He added that promotion arrears are being systematically cleared in accordance with established administrative procedures.
To prevent further administrative delays, the Minister directed ministry officials to immediately examine all documentation submitted by the Council, coordinate with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and expedite resolution on all pending matters. Addressing union concerns regarding past delays, Oyedele stated that the administration aims to build trust through transparency, routine consultation, and swift execution.
“Our objective is to build a system where issues are resolved proactively,” Oyedele said. “We want workers to have confidence that once government gives its word, it will honour that commitment.”
Speaking earlier, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir commended the Minister for convening the session and pressed for the rapid resolution of key issues affecting public servants, including wage awards, promotion arrears, and salary relativity adjustments for health sector workers. Minjibir noted that fulfilling these obligations promptly would protect industrial harmony and restore worker confidence in public administration.
Key officials within the ministry provided operational details on the ongoing payment rollout. The Director of the Cash Management Department, Christiana Osho, stated that reconciliation work for the wage award has concluded and the financial release is entering its final approval phase. She noted that once funds drop, payments to eligible workers will commence immediately while staff continue clearing the remaining promotion schedules.
Providing further detail on the promotion backlog, the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, stated that Batch 7 promotion arrears, which were inadvertently skipped during a previous payment cycle, are now being processed concurrently with Batch 9. Danjuma added that the government is actively collaborating with appropriate MDAs to resolve issues surrounding the Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding benefits.
Supporting the effort, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, stated that the ministry will work hand-in-hand with organized labor to ensure all approved entitlements are processed without unnecessary bureaucracy. Omachi maintained that sustained dialogue offers the most practical path to preserving peace across the Federal Public Service.
Both government representatives and labor leaders concluded the meeting with a shared commitment to keep communication lines open as payments roll out over the coming weeks.
