In keeping with its promises to federal employees, the Federal Government has started paying the second tranche of the N35,000 wage award arrears to public personnel.  

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) acknowledged the payment in a statement released in Abuja on Friday. The OAGF said the payment was a component of the unpaid wage award that was implemented to lessen the impact of economic reforms on workers in the public sector.  

The government had already paid one month's arrears out of the five months owed to federal employees under the wage award system, according to Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF.  The remaining debt is lowered to three months with the payment of the second tranche.

The elimination of gasoline subsidies and other policies that had a major impact on the cost of living led to the introduction of the N35,000 monthly salary award as a temporary palliative solution.  

It was decided to lessen the financial strain on employees while a new minimum wage structure was being negotiated between the Federal Government and organized labor.  

The Office of the Accountant General responded to rumors that the Federal Government had abandoned the salary award by denying them, arguing that the government has not broken its word.  The office explained that until the entire amount owed is paid, payments will be made in stages.

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