The Federal Government has made a promise to federal public servants, guaranteeing that the outstanding wage award will be settled by mid-August. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to address promotion arrears, all part of the government’s broader commitment to meeting its obligations to the workforce.
This reassurance was announced during a meeting between the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) on the Trade Side, with their National President, Kabiru Minjibir, at the helm.
During the discussion, Oyedele emphasized the government’s dedication to honoring all agreements made with organized labor. He noted that when the government makes commitments, it intends to fulfill them, insisting they do not indulge in unachievable promises. Realistic timelines are set for any pending matters, ensuring they are followed through diligently.
Oyedele revealed that the necessary approvals for disbursing the outstanding wage award are almost completed and expressed optimism that eligible workers will start receiving their payments by mid-August. Moreover, he assured that attention is being directed toward the outstanding promotion arrears, with current efforts aimed at processing the delayed batches in accordance with established procedures.
He instructed relevant government personnel to evaluate documents provided by the JPSNC and collaborate with respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to expedite actions on unresolved labor-related issues. Acknowledging concerns around delays in some agreements’ execution, he reassured workers of the administration’s intent to build trust through transparency, consistent engagement, and swift resolutions.
Kabiru Minjibir, JPSNC President, praised the minister for engaging with their delegation. He urged the Federal Government to hasten the disbursement of pending wages and resolve issues affecting health workers’ salaries and other labor matters. Minjibir emphasized that swiftly meeting these commitments could enhance industrial peace and bolster workers’ faith in the administration.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to collaborating closely with organized labor to process workers’ entitlements promptly. Meanwhile, Mohammed Danjuma, Permanent Secretary of Special Duties, informed attendees that Batch 7 promotion arrears, previously missed during earlier payments, are now being processed alongside Batch 9. He mentioned ongoing discussions with MDAs to address issues related to Peculiar Allowance and other pending labor concerns.
Providing updates on the payment process, Director of Cash Management Christiana Osho mentioned that reconciliation of the outstanding wage award is complete, with fund releases in the final modalities. She clarified that eligible public servants will start receiving their wage awards once funds are disbursed and assured that promotion arrears will continue as per the approved schedule.
In unison, both the Federal Government and JPSNC reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration to resolve outstanding labor issues promptly and sustain industrial harmony throughout the federal public service.
The meeting followed an announcement by Efe Ovuakporie, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance. She stated that the government had already begun addressing many concerns raised by organized labor before receiving formal communication.
