The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has started the payment of February 2026 salaries to Federal Government workers whose wages are funded through the treasury.

According to the office, payments to workers began on Monday, March 2, 2026, after a short delay caused by a technical problem in the payment system.

The Director of Press and Public Relations in the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, explained that the issue that caused the delay had been resolved and steps have been taken to prevent a similar situation in the future.

“The delay in the payment of the February 2026 salaries was due to a technical hitch and it has been tackled and necessary measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence,” Mokwa said.

The development means that thousands of federal civil servants across ministries, departments and agencies will begin receiving their February salaries.

The OAGF also disclosed that it has completed the payment process for one month of the outstanding wage award arrears owed to federal workers.

The office said the payment was made after it received the required approval to begin clearing the arrears.

According to the statement, the payment represents one month out of the three months of wage award arrears still outstanding.

The wage award was introduced by the Federal Government as part of temporary measures designed to reduce the financial pressure on workers following economic reforms that increased the cost of living.

In August 2025, the Federal Government began paying the second tranche of the N35,000 wage award arrears to civil servants as part of efforts to meet its commitments to federal workers.

The N35,000 monthly wage award was introduced after the removal of petrol subsidies and other economic reforms that affected household expenses across the country.

The measure was agreed upon during negotiations between the Federal Government and organised labour as a temporary support for workers while discussions on a new minimum wage structure were ongoing.

Under the arrangement, the government agreed to pay the N35,000 monthly wage award for a limited period as a way of cushioning the economic impact on public sector employees.

However, in recent weeks there have been concerns and speculation in some quarters that the Federal Government may have abandoned the wage award payments.

The Accountant-General’s office rejected those claims and insisted that the government remains committed to settling the outstanding arrears.

According to the statement, the wage award payments are being made in phases and will continue until the full balance has been cleared.

“The Federal Government has not reneged on its obligation. The wage award arrears will continue to be paid in instalments of N35,000 per month until the outstanding balance is completely settled,” the statement said.

The OAGF explained that the phased payment approach is intended to ensure that the government meets its commitments while managing its financial obligations.

The issue of wages and worker welfare has remained a major subject of discussion between the government and labour unions in recent months.

Public sector workers have continued to express concern about the rising cost of living, driven by inflation and economic adjustments.

Labour unions have been calling for improved wage conditions and better welfare packages for workers across the country. (The Nation)