Parting gift: Buhari begins 40% salary “raise arrears” payment to federal civil servants

The Federal Government has started paying the 40 per cent pay raise arrears to civil servants in the country as parting gift. The government started the payment on Saturday, April 22. President Muhammadu Buhari had proposed a 40 per cent pay rise arrears for federal civil servants to cushion the effects of the planned removal of fuel subsidy. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, later announced the approval by the Federal Government, adding that the pay rise had been included in the 2023 budget.

Ngige said that the payment would take effect from January 1, 2023, adding that the rise will be applicable to all workers from level 1 to 17. Indications are that some federal civil servants, on Saturday, started receiving bank alerts of the arrears. “I received my my own arrears today. Some of our other colleagues have also confirmed receipt of their arrears. It came in alongside our April salary,” some civil servants said.