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Federal Government fixes a mid-August deadline for the payment of outstanding wage awards, assuring eligible public servants that disbursement will begin once the final release of funds is concluded.
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Promotion arrears move into payment stage as the government confirms that the previously omitted Batch 7 is now being processed alongside Batch 9 to clear long-standing backlogs affecting federal workers.
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Outstanding workers’ benefits remain on government’s agenda, with authorities saying work is progressing on peculiar allowances and other pending financial obligations arising from agreements with organised labour.
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Labour leaders welcome the assurances but press for immediate implementation, insisting that prompt payment of all outstanding entitlements is critical to sustaining industrial peace.
August 6, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has assured public servants that all outstanding wage award payments will be settled before the middle of August, while processing of long-awaited promotion arrears and other workers’ entitlements has entered a new phase.
The assurance was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, during a meeting with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), where both sides reviewed the implementation of outstanding agreements between the government and public sector workers.
Speaking at the meeting, Oyedele disclosed that the necessary financial releases for the outstanding wage award are being finalised, expressing confidence that eligible federal workers would begin receiving their payments before the middle of August.
He explained that the government is also addressing delays in the payment of promotion arrears, confirming that Batch 7, which had earlier been omitted from previous payment exercises, is now being processed together with Batch 9 to ensure affected officers receive their outstanding benefits.
The minister added that work is equally progressing on the payment of peculiar allowances and other unresolved financial obligations owed to workers across the federal public service.
According to him, the Tinubu administration remains committed to honouring agreements reached with organised labour through sustained dialogue, improved fiscal planning and timely implementation of workers’ welfare programmes.
He stressed that fulfilling these commitments is essential to maintaining industrial harmony and strengthening confidence in the government’s reform agenda.
The leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council welcomed the government’s assurances but urged the administration to match its promises with swift implementation.
The labour representatives emphasised that prompt settlement of outstanding wage awards, promotion arrears and allowances would significantly improve workers’ morale, reinforce trust in government commitments and reduce the likelihood of industrial unrest across the public service.
Background
The outstanding wage award is part of the Federal Government’s temporary intervention introduced after the removal of petrol subsidy to cushion the impact of rising living costs on workers. The measure formed a key component of negotiations with organised labour following widespread concerns over inflation and declining purchasing power.
Although portions of the wage award have been implemented, delays in the payment of outstanding balances, promotion arrears and other allowances have remained recurring issues in discussions between the government and labour unions.
In recent months, organised labour has repeatedly called on the Federal Government to fulfil all outstanding agreements, warning that prolonged delays undermine workers’ welfare and confidence in ongoing reforms.
The latest assurance comes as the Tinubu administration continues efforts to balance economic reforms with labour welfare, while seeking to preserve industrial peace amid persistent inflationary pressures and increasing demands for improved remuneration in the public sector.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
