A conflict between organised labour and the Federal Government is unfolding due to the government's failure to sustain the payment of the N35,000 wage award to workers. Workers in the Federal Civil Service expressed dissatisfaction, revealing that the government only fulfilled the N35,000 wage award for September.

President Bola Tinubu's removal of the fuel subsidy upon assuming office prompted the Federal Government to agree to pay N35,000 to each worker, aiming to alleviate the hardship caused by the subsidy removal. According to a memo from Ekpo Nta, the Chairman of the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission, the payment of the wage award was set to commence on September 1, 2023.

Contrary to expectations, investigations revealed that the government only honoured the wage award for September. A senior civil servant expressed confusion, stating, "The wage award was only paid once, and I assume that was for September. Since then, we have not received another. We are all confused as there has been no official communication from the government on the matter."

Another civil servant raised concerns, highlighting the financial strain on workers: "Our take-home salaries cannot even take us home any longer at this point." A civil servant from a federal government-owned school in Abuja echoed these sentiments, stressing that workers received the wage award for only one month.

Benson Upah, the Head of Information at the Nigeria Labour Congress, condemned the government's actions, calling them "dishonourable" and "completely unacceptable." He hinted at possible actions by the NLC, stating, "Certainly, the Congress will do something about this, but what it will do will depend on the appropriate organs of the Congress. On communication with the government, sure, we will. It usually precedes our actions."

In response to concerns, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation spokesperson, Bawa Mokwa, reassured civil servants that plans were underway to ensure they receive their wage awards. He stated, "The process is ongoing. They will be paid. The process to pay the wage awards has commenced."

Meanwhile, it was revealed that the Federal Government has budgeted N1tn for minimum wage adjustments, promotion arrears, and severance benefits for civil servants in the 2024 appropriation budget. Despite this, the Nigeria Labour Congress emphasised its opposition to the Federal Government's imposition of a new minimum wage.