By Muhammad Mamman
In a heartfelt outcry from the heart of Abuja, civil servants have issued an impassioned plea to the federal government, demanding the immediate payment of four months’ worth of unpaid 35,000 wage awards. Their voices, laden with frustration and hope, echo through the capital as they lament the government’s baffling delay in fulfilling its promise.
On a brisk Monday, these dedicated workers gathered to voice their discontent, their words tinged with both exasperation and dwindling patience. Back on April 28, the government had raised hopes with a bold announcement, vowing to clear the backlog of five months’ wage awards.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, declared that the arrears would be settled in tidy 35,000 monthly instalments over five months, starting after April 2025 salaries.
“We were told the payments would follow our April salaries, not alongside them, and continue for five months,” Mr Mokwa had assured, his words brimming with the government’s supposed commitment to boosting staff welfare and productivity. Yet, after a single payment in May, the promise fizzled out, leaving civil servants feeling betrayed and disillusioned.
Uche Anune, a weary civil servant, spoke with quiet indignation: “It’s disheartening. The government seems to drag its feet until we’re forced to shout or protest. That’s no way to treat us. They made this pledge freely—no one twisted their arm. Honouring it is the decent thing to do.” His words carry the weight of a man tired of broken promises, yearning for respect.
Joseph Edeh, another civil servant, didn’t mince words, his voice thick with disillusionment. “I’ve lost faith in them,” he admitted. “They promised five months, paid one, then nothing. Why toy with us like this? Nobody’s smiling.
They should clear the four months’ arrears in one go and be done with it.” His frustration paints a vivid picture of a workforce feeling neglected and undervalued.
Franca Ofili, her tone both pleading and resolute, added, “That 35,000 could be a lifeline for so many of us, easing our financial burdens. The government must stop dangling hope in front of us and just pay what’s owed—all at once.” Her words resonate with the quiet desperation of those struggling to make ends meet.
The civil servants’ collective cry is not just about money; it’s about dignity, trust, and the government’s duty to keep its word. As they await action, their patience wears thin, and the question looms: will the government rise to the occasion, or will these loyal workers be left to fend for themselves once more?
