By Sam Tunji

The Federal Government has disbursed the second tranche of the N35,000 wage award arrears to federal workers, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation confirmed on Friday.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, the OAGF clarified that the latest payment is part of ongoing efforts to offset the five-month wage award arrears owed to federal government employees.

“The Federal Government has paid the second tranche of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears to federal government workers,” the statement read.

It further explained that the initial tranche — representing one month — had already been paid earlier in the year, leaving three more monthly tranches to complete the payment cycle.

“With the payment of the second tranche, there remain three tranches to exhaust the wage award arrears,” the statement said.

The OAGF also addressed public concerns and speculations suggesting the Federal Government may have abandoned the arrears.

It firmly dismissed such claims, assuring civil servants of the government’s commitment to honouring its obligations.

“Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the Federal Government has not reneged on payment of the wage award arrears,” the statement emphasised.

The wage award, which was part of a palliative package negotiated in 2023 following the removal of fuel subsidy, is being paid in monthly instalments of N35,000 over five months.

The award was designed to cushion the effects of inflation and rising living costs on public sector workers.

According to the OAGF, the Federal Government remains committed to completing the payments in instalments.

“The Federal Government will continue to pay the wage award in instalments of N35,000 per month until the outstanding arrears are exhausted,” the statement concluded.