The Federal Government has blamed a technical hitch for the delay in the payment of February salaries to treasury-funded workers, announcing that disbursement had commenced nationwide.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation said it had started paying affected workers after resolving the issue that disrupted the schedule.

The statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, read in part, “The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has commenced the payment of February 2026 salaries to Federal Government treasury-funded workers. Payments began on Monday, March 2, 2026.

“The Office explained that the delay in the payment of the February 2026 salaries was due to a technical hitch, and it has been tackled, and necessary measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence.”

The clarification followed concerns among federal workers over the late payment of their February salaries, which are typically credited before the end of the month.

The OAGF also disclosed progress on outstanding wage awards, stating that part of the arrears had been cleared.

The statement added, “In addition, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has received approval and has concluded the process of payment of one month wage award arrears out of the three months outstanding.”

The wage award was introduced by the Federal Government as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of economic reforms and rising living costs on public sector employees.

The PUNCH last week reported that organised labour in the federal public service issued a Friday deadline to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate release of funds to settle three months’ outstanding wage awards and other pending allowances owed to workers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) conveyed the ultimatum in a letter addressed to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, warning that failure to meet the February 27, 2026, deadline would compel the eight unions in the civil service to take decisive action.

The unions accused the government of withholding funds meant for workers, alleging that relevant agencies were prepared to process payments once the Ministry of Finance released the required funds.

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The Nigerian Air Force, under the Joint Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai, conducted an intelligence-driven Air Interdiction mission against terrorist elements in the Yuwe general area of the Sambisa axis in Borno State.

The early morning operation, according to the service, followed confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance that identified structures used as terrorist commanders’ hideouts and logistics warehouses.

A statement released on Monday by the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said post-strike assessments, supported by intelligence sources, confirmed the neutralisation of several high-value operatives, including senior commanders and fighters coordinating activities within the theatre.

The statement partly read, “The NAF under the Joint Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai, executed a decisive, intelligence-driven Air Interdiction mission against terrorist elements in the Yuwe general area of the Sambisa axis on 28 February 2026. The early morning operation followed confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance which identified structures serving as terrorist commanders’ hideouts and logistics warehouses.

“Acting with precision and overwhelming force, NAF strike elements successfully acquired and engaged the validated targets, delivering accurate air strikes that effectively dismantled critical terrorist infrastructure.

“Post-strike assessments, corroborated by credible intelligence sources, confirm the neutralisation of several high-value terrorist operatives, including senior commanders and fighters actively coordinating hostile activities within the theatre.”

He said the strikes disrupted the terrorists’ command-and-control structure and degraded their logistics network, limiting their operational capacity in the area.

He stated, “The strikes significantly disrupted the terrorists’ command-and-control architecture and degraded their logistics network, further constraining their operational capabilities in the region.

“The Nigerian Air Force has since maintained a sustained ISR presence over the area to identify and engage additional verified targets, keeping relentless pressure on fleeing and regrouping elements.”

Commenting on the operation, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, commended the professionalism and combat efficiency of the aircrew and supporting personnel.

He reaffirmed the NAF’s unwavering resolve to deny terrorists any sanctuary within the country.

“The Nigerian Air Force will continue to project decisive air power in close synergy with ground forces until every identified terrorist enclave is dismantled. We remain committed to sustaining aggressive, intelligence-led operations that protect our nation and restore enduring peace,” he added.

The air operation forms part of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts under Operation Hadin Kai in Nigeria’s North-East.

The Nigerian Air Force has sustained aerial offensives in the Sambisa axis and surrounding areas to degrade terrorist strongholds, disrupt logistics networks and support ground troops in restoring security across affected communities.

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Members of the South West leadership of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria staged a peaceful protest in Lagos State, denouncing the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in strikes by the United States and Israel.

The protest, which took place in the early hours of Monday, follows similar demonstrations in Kano State on Sunday.

In Lagos, demonstrators marched through parts of the Maryland axis, carrying placards and banners denouncing what they described as an “invasion” of Iran and the targeted assassination of the long-serving Iranian leader.

Chants and slogans expressed solidarity with Iran and strong opposition to the actions of the United States and Israel.

According to reports from Leadership, the gathering remained calm and orderly, with no immediate reports of violence or major disruptions or spread to other areas.

Some IMN leaders, speaking to newsmen, urged the Nigerian government to reject the presence of US troops in the country.

South West coordinator of IMN, Muftau Zakariya, said that the protest was organised to express their concerns about what he called sustained invasions of sovereign nations by the United States administration, citing Venezuela as a recent example of foreign interference.

Zakariya also claimed that terrorism in Nigeria has increased since the involvement of the US government.

He said heightened and sustained attacks in Kwara State followed what he described as US involvement in the country’s affairs.

“I said to you that nothing good is coming from the US intervention. It is only interested in their economic gains and not minding the consequences thereafter,” he told Leadership.

Another leader of the movement, Muhammadu Bashir, said the protest was a way of registering their concerns over the killing of Iranian leaders.

He said the protest would remain peaceful and would be sustained across the region.

The demonstration follows widespread outrage among Shi’ite communities globally after Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei’s death on Saturday during a large-scale U.S.-Israeli operation against targets in Iran.

The strikes, which began on or around February 28, 2026, have escalated into ongoing military exchanges, with reports of significant casualties, retaliatory actions by Iran, and regional instability.

The Islamic Republic on Sunday announced 40 days of national mourning in honour of Khamenei, who ruled the Middle East nation for nearly four decades.

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