Organised labour has issued an August 11 deadline to the federal government to address outstanding wage commitments or risk widespread industrial unrest across the civil service.
- +Organised labour gives FG August 11 deadline over unpaid wages
The union’s stance was communicated in a letter addressed to the finance minister, signed by Gbenga Olowoyo, the council’s national secretary, on behalf of Benjamin Yanto, national chairman.
The union’s stance was communicated in a letter addressed to the finance minister, signed by Gbenga Olowoyo, the council’s national secretary, on behalf of Benjamin Yanto, national chairman.
The temporary monthly wage award was originally introduced as a palliating measure to cushion the impact of rising living costs following the 2023 removal of the petrol subsidy, pending the full implementation of a new national minimum wage. While early disbursements were made, delays in clearing residual arrears have reignited friction between the government and public sector workers.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), representing the trade union side, has demanded an urgent meeting with Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to resolve the non-payment of two months’ wage awards and the delayed implementation of a 40 percent peculiar allowance for federal workers.
The leadership expressed frustration over the ministry’s silence following two previous correspondences dated May 5 and July 9, 2026, which went unanswered.
“The national leadership expects that this meeting will help to address these outstanding issues to prevent palpable disquiet and a brewing industrial crisis,” the letter stated.
According to the leadership, this proactive outreach serves as a final measure to forestall unsanctioned industrial action by discontented public servants.
The union’s grievances centre on two primary financial obligations:
Peculiar allowance: A 40 percent adjustment approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). Although a circular signed by Eyo Nta, NSIWC executive chairman, fixed the effective date as May 1, 2026, implementation across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) remains stalled.
Wage award arrears: Outstanding payments for March and April 2026, which were intended to be disbursed alongside regular monthly salaries.
Labour leaders warned that continued official inaction risks undermining industrial harmony, urging the ministry to issue immediate directives to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to clear the arrears and operationalise the approved allowance framework.
