By Godswill Micheal<\/p>\n
The Federal Government has assured federal public servants that all outstanding wage awards will be paid on or before August 15, while long-awaited promotion arrears are also being processed as part of efforts to clear workers’ outstanding entitlements.<\/p>\n
The assurance was given on Wednesday during a meeting between the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) Trade Side, according to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n
The ministry disclosed that the Director of the Cash Management Department, Christiana Osho, informed the meeting that the reconciliation of outstanding wage awards had been completed and that the release of funds was at the final stage.<\/p>\n
She explained that eligible public servants would begin receiving the payments immediately after the funds are released.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the meeting, Edun reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to fulfilling agreements reached with workers, stressing that the administration would continue to provide realistic timelines and honour its obligations.<\/p>\n
“When government makes commitments, it delivers. We are not in the habit of making promises that cannot be fulfilled. Where there are outstanding issues, we will give realistic timelines and ensure they are implemented,” the minister said.<\/p>\n
He added: “Our objective is to build a system where issues are resolved proactively. We want workers to have confidence that once government gives its word, it will honour that commitment.”<\/p>\n
The minister directed relevant government officials to review the documents submitted by the labour council, engage the appropriate ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and accelerate action on unresolved labour-related issues.<\/p>\n
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, disclosed that the government was processing Batch Seven promotion arrears, which were inadvertently omitted during an earlier payment exercise, alongside Batch Nine in order to address the backlog.<\/p>\n
He added that efforts were also underway, in collaboration with relevant MDAs, to resolve outstanding issues relating to the payment of the Peculiar Allowance and other pending welfare demands by federal workers.<\/p>\n
On his part, the National President of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, commended the minister for engaging with the union leadership and appealed for the prompt settlement of outstanding wage awards, promotion arrears, salary relativity issues affecting health workers and other welfare concerns.<\/p>\n
The assurance comes amid sustained pressure from organised labour over delays in implementing agreements reached with the Federal Government.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the JPSNC called on the Minister of Finance to intervene in the delayed payment of two months’ wage awards and the implementation of the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance for eligible federal workers, warning that prolonged delays could heighten industrial tensions.<\/p>\n
The latest development also follows renewed demands by the Federal Workers Forum for improved welfare for public servants, including the implementation of a \u20a6300,000 national minimum wage, the immediate payment of outstanding wage awards and salary arrears, and the settlement of other unpaid entitlements.<\/p>\n
The forum argued that rising inflation, the high cost of living and declining purchasing power had significantly eroded workers’ earnings, making improved remuneration and the prompt payment of outstanding benefits imperative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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