FG Commences February 2026 Salary Payments, Blames Technical Glitch for Delay; Begins Clearing Wage Award Arrears

By Tgnews Reporter

The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of February 2026 salaries to treasury-funded federal workers nationwide, attributing a brief delay in the process to a technical glitch that has since been resolved.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Director of Press and Public Relations Bawa Mokwa confirmed that payments began on March 2, 2026.

“The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has commenced the payment of February 2026 salaries to Federal Government treasury-funded workers. Payments began on Monday, March 2, 2026,” the statement read.

The OAGF explained that the delay was caused by a technical hitch in the payment system, which has now been fully addressed. “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 added.

This announcement provides immediate relief to thousands of civil servants across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) who had awaited their February earnings amid growing concerns over payment timelines.

The development comes just days after organised labour in the federal public service issued a stern ultimatum, setting Friday, February 27, 2026, as a deadline for the government to release funds to settle three months of outstanding wage award arrears covering May, June, and July 2024 and other pending allowances.

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) had warned in a letter to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that failure to meet the deadline would force the eight unions in the civil service to take decisive action, potentially including industrial unrest.

In response to these pressures, the government has also advanced progress on the arrears. The OAGF disclosed that approval has been secured and processing completed for the payment of one month’s wage award arrears out of the three outstanding months.

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Wale Edun outlined a phased payment schedule in a post on X via the Ministry of Labour: the May 2024 arrears will be paid alongside February salaries, June 2024 arrears after March salaries, and July 2024 arrears after April salaries.

The wage award, originally introduced as a N35,000 monthly palliative to cushion the effects of economic reforms including fuel subsidy removal, has faced delays in recent tranches, exacerbating hardships for federal workers despite partial payments in previous periods.

The swift action by the OAGF follows high-level engagements between government officials and labour leaders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), aimed at averting disruptions in the public service.

While the resolution of the February salary issue and the commencement of arrears clearance have been welcomed, labour stakeholders continue to monitor compliance with the full payment timeline to ensure sustained industrial harmony.

The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to meeting obligations to workers, emphasizing that the measures taken will prevent future technical disruptions and facilitate smoother salary disbursements moving forward.