The Bola Tinubu-led administration has ordered the continued deduction of salaries from federal workers to recover what it describes as “excess payments” made in December 2024 due to a system error.
In a statement released on Friday, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed that deductions are ongoing and will continue until the overpaid amounts are fully recovered.
“There were cases of overpayments in December 2024 due to a system error. The error has been corrected, and deductions from affected workers’ salaries are ongoing and shall continue until full recovery,” the statement read.
The announcement has sparked widespread anger among federal workers, many of whom were unaware that the additional funds they received in December were due to an error.
Despite complaints of salary reductions in 2025, the OAGF insists that January and February salaries were normal and that previous salary increases were temporary, caused by accumulated arrears.
“Payment of normal salaries resumed in January 2025 after exhausting various arrears. Some workers assumed they were shortchanged, but this is their actual salary,” the OAGF clarified.
It added that between October and December 2024, federal workers had received arrears from the minimum wage adjustment, 25% and 35% salary increases, and wage awards, which had temporarily inflated salaries.
The government has made it clear that salary deductions will persist until all excess payments have been recovered. Additionally, unless a new salary structure is implemented, salaries will remain unchanged moving forward.
“Barring any future salary adjustments, the salaries paid in January and February 2025 shall remain unchanged,” the statement added.
Adding to workers’ frustration, the OAGF acknowledged delays in paying promotion arrears but attributed the issue to the Standing Committee on Promotion and Salary Arrears in the Budget Office, which is still verifying submissions from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the OAGF, batches 1 to 6 of the arrears have been processed, but further payments are awaiting approval from the Budget Office.
For thousands of federal workers already facing rising inflation and economic hardship, the government’s explanation offers little relief.
With living costs soaring, many employees are now forced to adjust their budgets, take loans, or cut back on essential expenses to cope with the unexpected deductions.
