Federal Government Commences February 2026 Salary Payments Following Technical Resolution
The Nigerian federal government has officially begun disbursing February 2026 salaries to treasury-funded workers across the nation, marking the end of a payment delay that had raised concerns among civil servants. According to an official statement released on Monday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the payment process commenced immediately after resolving what was described as a technical hitch within the government's payment systems.
Technical Glitch Identified as Cause of Payment Delay
The government has attributed the recent salary payment delay specifically to technical difficulties that temporarily disrupted the normal disbursement schedule. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation confirmed in their statement that the technical issue has been fully resolved and that necessary measures have been implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This explanation comes amid growing anxiety among federal workers who rely on timely salary payments for their livelihoods.
"The delay in the payment of the February 2026 salaries was due to technical hitch, which has been tackled, and necessary measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence," the OAGF statement clarified, providing official context for the payment disruption that affected thousands of government employees nationwide.
Labor Union Pressure and Negotiations Prompt Action
The salary payment development follows significant pressure from organized labor groups within the federal public service. According to reports, labor unions had issued a firm deadline demanding the release of funds to settle three months of outstanding wage award arrears along with other pending allowances. The leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council had explicitly warned that failure to meet their February 27 deadline could trigger decisive action from eight major civil service unions.
This labor pressure culminated in high-level discussions between government officials and union representatives, with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, convening a crucial meeting to address the outstanding payment issues. The negotiations occurred against the backdrop of labor's threat to picket the Ministry of Finance over the delayed payments, creating an urgent need for resolution.
Wage Award Arrears Payment Schedule Announced
In a significant development accompanying the salary payment announcement, the government has confirmed that approval has been received and the process concluded for the payment of one month's wage award arrears from the three outstanding months. Finance Minister Wale Edun announced that the government would begin clearing these arrears, with specific payment timelines established for the remaining amounts.
The payment schedule outlined by government officials includes:
- May 2024 wage-award arrears to be paid alongside February 2026 salaries
- June 2024 arrears scheduled for settlement after March 2026 salaries
- July 2024 arrears to be cleared following April 2026 salary payments
This phased approach to addressing the wage award backlog represents a structured plan to resolve outstanding financial obligations to civil servants while maintaining regular salary disbursements.
Broader Financial Context and Budget Implications
The salary payment developments occur within a broader financial context that includes significant increases in government personnel expenditure. According to recently released budgetary documents, the federal government has projected that personnel costs will rise by at least 60% in 2025 due to the implementation of the new national minimum wage and consequential salary adjustments for civil servants.
With N4.1 trillion allocated for personnel costs in the 2024 budget, this 60% increase translates into an additional N2.46 trillion, bringing the total estimated personnel expenditure to approximately N6.56 trillion in the 2025 budget. These figures were contained in the newly released 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, highlighting the substantial financial commitment required to support the nation's civil service workforce.
The resolution of the technical payment issues and the establishment of a clear schedule for wage award arrears represents a critical step in maintaining stability within Nigeria's public service sector while addressing legitimate concerns raised by labor representatives about timely compensation for government workers.
