Organised labour in the federal public service has issued a Friday deadline to the Federal Government to release funds for the payment of three months’ outstanding wage awards and other pending allowances owed to workers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The demand was made by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, which warned that failure to meet the Feb. 27 deadline would trigger decisive action by the eight unions in the civil service.
The unions accused the Federal Government of withholding funds meant for workers, alleging that agencies responsible for processing payments were ready but constrained by the non-release of funds by the Ministry of Finance.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the council said the wage award dispute had lingered for over two years since the approval of the N70,000 minimum wage.
“This wage award has dragged on for over two years now since the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage payment was approved,” the letter stated.
The unions recalled that the wage award was introduced as a cushioning measure following the removal of fuel subsidy and was expected to run until the commencement of the new minimum wage implementation in July 2024.
According to them, five months of payments were initially left unpaid until pressure mounted, leading to the staggered settlement of two months, leaving a balance of three months outstanding since July 2024.
“It is beyond the imagination and expectations of federal workers that the federal government left five months unpaid ab initio; not until there was much pressure there and then did the federal government effect the staggered payment of two months, leaving the balance of three months since July 2024 unpaid,” the unions stated.
The council further alleged that all relevant government agencies were prepared to effect payment but were awaiting the release of funds.
“Available information revealed that all government agencies responsible for the payment of the wage award are ready to pay, but this is subject to the release of funds by the Honourable Minister of Finance, who is deliberately holding back the money,” it added.
Beyond the wage award, the unions also demanded payment of promotion arrears for workers promoted over three years ago, salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024, and accurate implementation of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance based on the N70,000 minimum wage.
Warning of possible industrial unrest, the unions said: “If the money meant for the payment of the wage award is not released on or before Friday, 27th February, 2026, the national leadership will take the bull by the horn and ensure appropriate actions are taken.”
They insisted that workers’ entitlements should not be treated lightly and urged the government to prevent undue hardship among employees.
Copies of the letter were forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, security agencies and affiliate unions for necessary action.
