February Salary Delay Explained by Accountant-General

The Accountant-General of Nigeria, Bawa Mokwa, issued a statement explaining the reasons behind the delay in salary payments for February to workers in the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and four other federal agencies. The delay is attributed to a gap in budget allocation for personnel costs, which has affected the payment of salaries.

The agencies impacted include the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the National Rural Electrification Agency, and the Kamuku National Park Council. Mokwa confirmed that while these agencies have not received their salaries, federal workers outside these agencies have already been paid.

The statement also addressed issues with accessing funds at Standard Chartered Bank, which requires a minimum account balance of seven million naira, despite policies for full salary transfers. The Accountant-General assured that steps are being taken to resolve the delay and ensure prompt payment.

The 2026 federal budget has allocated N8.36 trillion for personnel costs, including provisions for pensions and gratuities.