The Confederation of Federal Workers of Nigeria (COFWON) has called on the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Federal Ministry of Finance to urgently release the remaining two months of the outstanding wage award owed to federal workers. In a memorandum made available to journalists in Uyo, the National Convener of COFWON, Pharm. (Comrade) Itoro Obong, appealed to the federal government to expedite action on the payment of the outstanding June and July 2024 wage award arrears.
Obong, who is also the former National Secretary of the Federal Workers Forum, said the delay in the implementation of the revised payment agreement was generating concerns among federal workers across the country. According to him, only one month of the arrears covering May 2024 was paid in March, while the remaining two months are yet to be settled despite earlier assurances by relevant authorities.
“The Confederation of Federal Workers of Nigeria (COFWON), a pressure group representing over 5,000 federal workers across various unions, wishes to formally express its displeasure regarding the delay in the implementation of the revised and agreed payment plan for the outstanding months of the wage award,” he stated. He explained that the union was earlier informed that the delay in the June 2024 payment was due to pending salary payments in some Federal Tertiary Institutions (FTIs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), but noted that most of those issues had reportedly been resolved.
The labour leader therefore urged the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure that the fourth tranche of the wage award is activated and paid before the end of the week. Obong also commended organised labour and the Public Sector Negotiating Council for facilitating the revised payment agreement and schedule.
Pharm. Comrade Itoro Obong, who just returned from the May Day rally celebration in Abuja, said he made a stopover at the Federal Ministry of Finance to remind the Hon. Minister through a letter. He also stated that he received a hopeful assurance from the Office of the Accountant General through the Director of Press, Alhaji Bawa Mokwa, who received him, that based on the strong assurances from the respective authorities involved, payment could be made within one week. He reaffirmed COFWON’s commitment to protecting the welfare of federal workers and ensuring that no worker is left behind.
