Workers across Nigeria’s federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are expressing growing frustration over unexplained pay cuts, missing pay slips, and unpaid wage arrears, raising fears of industrial unrest.
Labour sources say the ongoing financial strain has left employees anxious and distrustful of the Federal Government, warning that the situation could trigger protests if not urgently addressed.
According to affected staff, several federal workers have seen their monthly salaries decline steadily over recent months, without any official explanation. Many have not received pay slips since September 2025, making it impossible to track deductions or confirm the status of allowances.
ENigeria Newspaper gathered that ministries including Information, Labour and Employment, Agriculture, and Education, along with agencies such as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), report the most pronounced reductions.
The backlog of unpaid arrears adds to the frustration. Wage award arrears for three months remain unsettled despite prior assurances, while promotion arrears dating back to 2023 continue to affect senior officers, leaving them earning the same as subordinates in some cases.
Statutory allowances are also missing from payrolls. The 20 per cent weighing-in allowance has not been paid since August 2024, and the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance, approved under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained unpaid since July 2024. Workers say these allowances form a critical part of their earnings, and their absence has exacerbated financial hardship.
“Morale is at its lowest ebb. People cannot explain their salaries, promotions mean nothing anymore, and allowances have vanished,” said a senior civil servant. Organised labour describes the mood in federal offices as “volatile,” with calls for transparency growing louder.
Employees are now demanding immediate explanations for salary deductions, the issuance of missing pay slips, and prompt settlement of all arrears.
Labour insiders warn that failure to act could paralyse service delivery across the federal civil service.
Repeated attempts to obtain responses from the Head of Service and other federal officials have been unsuccessful, as there has been no official response from the body as at the time of filing this report.
