The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has announced salary deduction from several federal workers overpaid in December 2024. A statement released on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, explained that the deductions are a result of overpayments made in December 2024 due to a system error. The OAGF confirmed that this error has since been rectified. The recovery of the overpaid funds is being implemented through ongoing deductions from the affected workers’ salaries.
January and February 2025 Salaries
The OAGF emphasized that there were no salary shortfalls in January and February 2025. The salaries paid during these months reflect the regular salaries after the disbursement of various arrears in the final quarter of 2024. These arrears included payments for the minimum wage increase, the 25% and 35% salary increases, and wage awards. The significant additional payments made in October through December 2024 temporarily inflated salaries, leading to the misconception among some workers that their January and February salaries were reduced. The OAGF clarifies that the current salaries are accurate, reflecting the normal pay scale without the inclusion of the arrears.
Promotion Arrears
The OAGF further explained the process for paying promotion arrears. This process is managed by a Standing Committee on Promotion and Salary Arrears within the Budget Office of the Federation. This committee is responsible for compiling and verifying salary and promotion arrears from all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies before submitting them to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for payment. The OAGF reports that batches 1 through 6 of promotion arrears payments have been completed, with further payments pending approval from the Budget Office.
Ongoing Deductions and Future Adjustments
The OAGF reiterated that deductions for the December 2024 overpayments will continue until the funds are fully recovered. Barring any future government-approved salary adjustments, the current salary structure will remain in effect until further review by the Federal Government.
Conclusion
The OAGF’s statement announcing the deduction aims to clarify the situation regarding recent salary adjustments and deductions for federal workers. The overpayments in December 2024, resulting from a system error, are being addressed through ongoing salary deductions. The January and February 2025 salaries reflect the regular pay structure following the disbursement of arrears in the previous quarter. The process for promotion arrears is also ongoing and subject to the approval of the Budget Office. The OAGF assures workers that the situation is under control and that transparency regarding salary payments is maintained.
