The long wait is finally over. The Federal Government has officially started paying the long-promised N35,000 wage award arrears to workers across federal ministries, departments, and agencies. If you are a federal civil servant, there is a high chance your alert is already on the way—or might have dropped without you even knowing.
This wage award payment is one of the most anticipated salary reliefs for government workers since the removal of the fuel subsidy. Workers who were hoping for this support since last year can now breathe a little easier as the disbursements have officially begun in batches.
Let’s go through everything you need to know, in plain and simple words.
In May 2025, some federal workers started receiving payment alerts of N35,000. This amount is part of the wage award that was first promised in October 2023 to support workers after fuel subsidy was removed.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed that the wage award has not been cancelled. In fact, it is included in the 2025 budget. The funds are ready, and the payment process has started.
The OAGF spokesperson, Bawa Mokwa, explained that many workers have already received their alerts while others will receive theirs in the coming days. Payments are being made gradually, and everyone eligible will be paid.
Here Is the Full Timeline of This Wage Award
| Month | Event or Update |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | Wage award of N35,000 announced by FG |
| January 2025 | FG promised that payments would resume |
| April 2025 | Salary paid without any arrears |
| May 2025 | First N35,000 arrears paid to some workers |
| June – Sept 2025 | Remaining months will be paid one by one |
The full arrears cover a period of five months. So, workers will be paid N35,000 per month for each of those five months. That means a total of N175,000 will be paid in installments from May to September 2025.
Who Will Be Paid This N35,000 Arrears?
This wage award is for federal civil servants only. If you are working under a federal ministry, agency, or department, then you are eligible to receive the N35,000 arrears.
It does not cover state government workers or private company employees. Only those on the federal payroll will be paid.
There is no need to apply or register. The payments are automatic. If you are already receiving your monthly salary from the federal government, then the wage award will come to your salary account too.
How Will the Payment Be Made?
Let’s make it simple. Here is how the payment is being made:
- Amount: N35,000 per month
- Months Covered: 5 months (total N175,000)
- Mode of Payment: Direct bank transfer to your salary account
- Start Date: May 2025
- End Date: September 2025 (if all goes as planned)
- Batch-wise Payment: Not everyone will get paid at once. Payments are in batches.
So, if you haven’t seen the N35,000 in your account yet, don’t panic. Just wait a bit and keep checking your alerts.
Why the N35,000 Wage Award Was Promised
The wage award was announced in October 2023 when rising fuel prices affected the daily lives of workers. Transport, food, and utilities became expensive after the subsidy removal.
The N35,000 monthly support was meant to ease this burden. However, due to delay in implementation, some workers missed payments for several months. The arrears now being paid are to cover those unpaid months.
Who Is Getting Paid Right Now?
This wage award is for federal government workers only. If you work for the federal civil service under a ministry, department, or agency – you are on the eligible list.
No application or fresh registration is required. Payments are being sent automatically based on existing payroll data.
If you haven’t seen a credit alert yet:
- Check your salary account
- Ask your HR or finance unit
- Wait for the next disbursement batch
Clarification: Was It Really in the 2025 Budget?
Yes, it was. Some blogs and media outlets claimed that the N35,000 wage award was not included in the 2025 federal budget. That information was wrong.
The Office of the Accountant-General clearly stated that the money for the arrears has already been provided in the budget. There is no need to worry about cancellation or delay anymore. The payment process has officially kicked off.
What Will Happen After the 5 Months Are Over?
Right now, the government has only promised to pay the N35,000 wage award for five months. Once the last payment is made in September 2025, there is no official word yet on whether the support will continue.
However, there is a bigger conversation going on. The government and labour unions are still discussing a new national minimum wage. So, there could be new changes to salaries in the future.
But for now, the N35,000 wage award is only for five months.