Debt Service, Salaries Exceed Revenue By N1.51trn As FG Generates N5.08trn Against N9.22trn Target In Q1 2026

The Federal Government has introduced stricter verification requirements for newly recruited workers seeking admission into its payroll, as personnel costs rose by N133.94bn to N1.96tn in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding capital expenditure during the period.

An analysis by The PUNCH, of the Federal Government’s First Quarter Budget Implementation Reports for 2025 and 2026 showed that personnel expenditure increased by 7.35 per cent from N1.82tn in the corresponding period of 2025, reflecting growing pressure on public finances.

The new measures were announced on Monday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa.

The OAGF said the directive, which takes immediate effect, applies to all ongoing and subsequent payroll admission processes under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

The statement read, “Henceforth, no newly recruited employee shall be enrolled without first being captured on the nominal roll of the relevant MDA and satisfying all prescribed validation and eligibility requirements.”

According to the 2026 First Quarter Budget Implementation Report, the Federal Government spent N1.96tn on personnel costs between January and March, compared with N1.69tn on capital expenditure.

This means salaries and related personnel obligations exceeded capital spending by approximately N267bn, or 15.77 per cent.

Personnel expenditure accounted for 20.05 per cent of the Federal Government’s total expenditure of N9.76tn, while capital expenditure represented 17.32 per cent.

A breakdown showed that personnel costs for Ministries, Departments and Agencies increased from N1.57tn in the first quarter of 2025 to N1.70tn in the corresponding period of 2026, representing an increase of N133.94bn, or 8.54 per cent.

Personnel expenditure by Government-Owned Enterprises remained unchanged at N254.35bn, indicating that the entire increase in the reported wage bill came from MDAs.

The figures further showed that the Federal Government spent an average of N652.37bn monthly on personnel costs during the review period, compared with N607.73bn in the corresponding period of 2025.

Despite the increase, actual personnel spending remained below the quarterly budget projection.

The Budget Office disclosed that N8.35tn was allocated to MDAs’ personnel costs in the 2026 budget, compared with N7.60tn in 2025, representing an increase of approximately N758.51bn, or 9.99 per cent.

The report stated, “The sum of N8.35tn was appropriated for MDAs Personnel Cost in the 2026 Budget. This translates to a prorated quarterly expenditure outlay of N2.09tn in 2026. Actual expenditure of N1.70tn was released in the first quarter of 2026, translating to N385.78bn (18.47 percent) below the quarterly projection for the year.”

While personnel expenditure continued to rise, implementation of the Federal Government’s capital budget remained significantly below expectations.

The report showed that total capital expenditure of N1.69tn fell short of the prorated quarterly projection of N8.07tn by N6.38tn, representing a shortfall of 79.06 per cent.

More significantly, no funds were released for the implementation of MDAs’ 2026 capital budget during the quarter, despite a prorated allocation of N3.92tn.

Explaining the development, the Budget Office stated, “Funds for MDAs’ capital expenditure were not released in the first quarter of 2026 because some MDAs were still utilising funds released under the 2025 capital budget, whose implementation period had been extended to 31st December, 2026.”

Consequently, implementation of the 2026 MDAs’ capital budget stood at zero as of March 31, although expenditure was recorded under other capital components, including GOEs, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and externally financed projects.

GOEs accounted for N740.32bn in capital expenditure, while TETFund spending stood at N393.56bn. Multilateral and bilateral project-tied loans contributed N287.44bn, while grants and donor-funded projects accounted for N249.50bn.

The pressure was further reflected in non-debt recurrent expenditure, which increased from N2.24tn in the first quarter of 2025 to N2.77tn in the corresponding period of 2026, representing an increase of approximately N523.49bn.

Personnel costs accounted for 70.73 per cent of non-debt recurrent spending during the period.

Expenditure on pensions and gratuities, including service-wide pensions, also increased from N161.60bn to N330.72bn, representing a rise of N169.12bn, or 104.65 per cent.

When pensions and gratuities are combined with personnel costs, the Federal Government’s expenditure on these obligations reached N2.29tn, compared with N1.98tn in the corresponding period of 2025.

However, pensions and gratuities are classified separately from personnel costs in the budget implementation reports.

The rising obligations coincided with weak revenue performance.

According to the Budget Office, the Federal Government generated approximately N5.08tn in the first quarter of 2026, against a quarterly target of N9.22tn, representing a shortfall of 44.93 per cent.

Personnel costs alone were equivalent to 38.56 per cent of actual revenue, compared with approximately 36.80 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.

This means that for every N100 received by the Federal Government during the quarter, an amount equivalent to nearly N39 was spent on personnel costs.

Debt-service payments further constrained government finances, reaching N4.63tn, equivalent to approximately 91.18 per cent of actual revenue.

Combined personnel costs and debt-service obligations amounted to N6.58tn, exceeding government revenue by approximately N1.51tn.

The Federal Government recorded a fiscal deficit of N4.69tn during the period.

The Budget Office acknowledged the need to contain recurrent spending, noting that restrictions on unapproved recruitment remained part of the government’s expenditure management measures.

It stated, “The FGN continued to pursue its goal of curbing the growth of recurrent expenditure as stated in the 2026-2028 MTEF/FSP.”

The report added, “Key initiatives aimed at reducing recurrent costs were therefore pursued vigorously during the period. This includes the embargo on unapproved recruitment by MDAs.”

It explained that recruitment and payroll enrolment requests must first obtain clearance from the Budget Office, while efforts to extend IPPIS coverage across federal establishments were continuing.

Under the latest arrangement, MDAs will assume greater responsibility for managing personnel budgets and maintaining accurate nominal rolls.

The OAGF explained that agencies seeking to enrol newly recruited employees must submit formal requests accompanied by recruitment approvals, appointment letters, applicable waivers and other supporting documents.

These records will undergo verification alongside salary structures, grade levels, salary steps, allowances and other financial entitlements to establish the legitimacy of appointments and the accuracy of payroll obligations.

The statement added, “The validation process will also cover statutory details, including Pension Fund Administrator information, pension identification numbers, National Housing Fund registration and tax records to ensure accurate deductions and timely remittances.”

Following the initial verification, employee records will be forwarded to the relevant MDA for confirmation and endorsement by the Accounting Officer, Director of Human Resources, Director of Finance and Accounts, and designated Payroll Validating Officer.

The records will then be returned to the OAGF for final processing.

The office stated, “Final admission into the Federal Government payroll will be subject to satisfactory completion of all validation procedures and the approval of the Accountant-General of the Federation.”

Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies and other relevant officials have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the requirements.

The OAGF warned that incomplete documentation or unresolved discrepancies would result in the deferment of payroll admission until the necessary conditions were satisfied.

It added that officers responsible for processing and approving payroll admissions would be held accountable for breaches of applicable rules and regulations.

The Federal Government’s wage bill is expected to rise further as it approved a monthly allowance of N70,000 for public servants beginning in November, following a conciliation meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress, the country’s biggest workers association, in Abuja.

The agreement provides for the payment across all levels for six months, although it did not specify the number of beneficiaries or the total amount budgeted for the intervention.

The PUNCH estimated that the Federal Government’s six-month transport allowance for its workers could cost about N465.7bn if all 1.1 million employee records on its payroll system qualify for the payment.

The economists, however, called for sustainable measures to reduce commuting costs and ease pressure on household budgets.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, however, rejected the N70,000 wage award to cushion transportation expenses.

Instead, the TUC demanded an immediate salary increase for workers and the implementation of outstanding agreements with health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions.