The Federal Government has promised public servants that outstanding wage award payments will be made before mid-August, while efforts are ongoing to process promotion arrears as part of its commitment to addressing workers’ outstanding entitlements.
Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele gave the assurance during a meeting on Wednesday with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council Trade Side, led by its National President Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, according to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The Director of the Cash Management Department, Christiana Osho, confirmed that reconciliation of the outstanding wage award had been completed and that the release of funds was at the final stage, with eligible public servants set to begin receiving payments once the funds are released.
Oyedele said the government had already begun addressing many of the issues raised by the council before receiving formal communication, and pledged that outstanding commitments would be implemented within realistic timelines.
“When government makes commitments, it delivers. 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,” he said.
Oyedele also directed relevant officials to review all documents submitted by the council, liaise with appropriate ministries, departments, and agencies, and expedite action on outstanding matters requiring government intervention.
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Permanent Secretary Special Duties Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma disclosed that Batch 7 promotion arrears, which was inadvertently omitted during an earlier payment exercise, is now being processed alongside Batch 9 to close the gap created by the oversight.
They are also working with relevant MDAs to resolve issues relating to the Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding labour matters raised by the council.
In practice, this development means that public servants will finally receive their outstanding wage awards and promotion arrears, which could help alleviate some of the financial burdens they have been facing.
This, in turn, could lead to improved morale and productivity among public servants, which is essential for the effective delivery of public services.
JPSNC President Minjibir commended the minister for receiving the delegation and appealed for the speedy resolution of outstanding labour issues, including the wage award, promotion arrears, salary relativity concerns affecting health workers, and other matters impacting federal public servants.
The outstanding wage award and promotion arrears have been among the most persistent grievances of federal public servants under the current administration, with labour unions repeatedly raising concerns about delays in implementing agreements reached with the government.
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Earlier this month, the JNPSNC urged Oyedele to urgently intervene in the delayed payment of two months’ wage award and the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal workers.
The council said it had requested a meeting with the minister on or before August 11 to address the outstanding welfare issues, warning that failure to resolve the matter could trigger unrest among public servants.
The latest assurance from the Federal Government is also coming weeks after the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) renewed calls for improved worker welfare, urging the government to review the country’s wage structure by approving a N300,000 national minimum wage.
The group argued that the current salaries earned by federal workers are no longer sustainable amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
It is a significant development.