Labour gives FG August 11 deadline over unpaid wage award

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, has given the Federal Government until August 11 to address the delay in the payment of two months’ wage award and the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal workers.

The union made the demand through a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, requesting an urgent meeting to resolve the outstanding issues before they lead to industrial action.

According to the council, the meeting should take place on or before August 11 to allow both parties to discuss workers’ welfare concerns and prevent growing tension within the federal public service. The union said its request followed the ministry’s failure to respond to two earlier letters sent on May 5 and July 9, 2026, despite repeated appeals.

The JNPSNC said the major issues remain the unpaid wage award for March and April 2026 and the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. It explained that the allowance was approved to take effect from May 1, 2026, but many eligible federal workers are yet to benefit from it.

The council said the unpaid wage award should have been paid together with workers’ salaries for the affected months. It added that the continued delay has created uncertainty among public servants, with many becoming worried over the government’s silence on the matter.

The union also accused the finance ministry of failing to engage with organised labour despite several attempts to resolve the issues through dialogue. It warned that ignoring the concerns of workers could increase dissatisfaction across Ministries, Departments and Agencies and lead to actions capable of disrupting public service operations.

According to the council, its latest letter is a final effort to find a peaceful solution before workers are pushed into taking further steps. It maintained that timely engagement by the government would help restore confidence and prevent avoidable disputes.

The JNPSNC, which represents unions across the federal public service on salary, allowance and welfare matters, said it remains committed to dialogue but expects the government to fulfil agreements already reached with workers.

The latest demand adds to growing pressure on the Federal Government to complete the implementation of welfare measures introduced after the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023.

Although the government introduced a temporary monthly wage award pending the implementation of a new national minimum wage, labour unions have continued to complain that some payments remain outstanding, while several federal agencies are yet to implement the approved 40 per cent peculiar allowance for eligible workers.