The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in Nigeria has officially attributed the delay in February 2026 salary payments to staff from the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and four other agencies to shortfalls in personnel cost allocations. This announcement, made by spokesperson Bawa Mokwa, emphasized that the affected organizations faced significant gaps in their salary budgets for the month, which led to the inability to process timely payments.

The federal bodies impacted by this issue include the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the National Rural Electrification Agency, Kamuku National Park, and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria. The Accountant-General's office clarified that these salary shortfalls were the primary cause of the delays and sought to address public concerns over the issue, illustrating the ongoing budgetary challenges faced by some federal agencies in managing their personnel expenses.

This situation not only affects the livelihoods of civil servants within these agencies but also raises questions about the federal government’s budgeting and financial planning processes. With repeated salary shortfalls and delays, there is growing concern regarding the management of funds allocated for personnel costs, underscoring the need for better financial oversight and resource allocation in Nigeria's federal budget system.