The Federal government has finally released N35 billion to settle long-standing salary arrears of workers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, the release of the money is in fulfillment of its promise to settle the backlog of promotion arrears owed Federal Civil Servants across the Federation covering years 2011-2016.
Of the amount, over N30 billion would be devoted to verified MDAs.
Speaking while briefing the Chairman of the Committee on the Verification of civil servants who are entitled to Promotion Arrears, Mr. Mohammed Kudu Usman, Director Inspectorate Department in the Office of the Accountant-General of Federation.
Idris said the payment has helped the workers meet some of their most pressing needs, adding that the Federal government is committed to fulfilling its promises and commitments to the workers.
According to the AGF, the payments, which are being made in batches, have seen staff from over 261 MDAs so far being fully paid N22,596,120,830.44.
A breakdown of the payments revealed that the first six batches were for 231 MDAs enrolled under the IPPIS, while there was another batch comprising 36 non-IPPIS MDAs.
He further stated that another set of 68 MDAs comprising a batch of 54 IPPIS MDAs and another batch of 12 non-IPPIS MDAs respectively have also been verified and their monies are been processed for payment. The total sum of N8,249,083,829.50 has been released for the settlement of these verified MDAs.