The Federal Government and organised labour have resolved a prolonged wage dispute affecting federal public servants, reaching an agreement on the payment of outstanding wage awards and the remittance of third-party deductions.
The breakthrough followed a high-level meeting held on March 2 between government representatives and the Trade Union Side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), alongside officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Those at the meeting included the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Salihu Usman.
Labour representatives included the Deputy President of the NLC, Mr Kabiru Ado; the NLC General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja; the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Mr Olowoyo Gbenga; and the National Treasurer of the council, Mrs Roselyn Uba Anarah.
The meeting came after organised labour issued a Feb. 27 ultimatum demanding the immediate release of funds to settle outstanding wage awards and allowances owed to federal workers.
Speaking after the meeting, Gbenga described the engagement as exhaustive but productive, noting that both sides demonstrated commitment to resolving the issues in the interest of workers and national stability.
He said the Ministry of Finance approved the payment of a three-month wage award, which would be disbursed sequentially beginning with February salaries.
According to him, the minister also assured labour leaders that third-party deductions, including cooperative contributions and other statutory payments, would henceforth be remitted simultaneously with monthly salary payments.
Gbenga commended the Minister of Labour and Employment for facilitating constructive dialogue between the government and labour unions.
He added that discussions also covered the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal public servants.
While a final decision was not reached on the allowance, the government pledged to continue consultations with labour representatives to ensure proper implementation.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commenced payment of February 2026 salaries to treasury-funded workers nationwide following the resolution of a technical glitch that caused delays.
The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Bawa Mokwa, disclosed this in a statement issued on March 2 in Abuja.
Mokwa said the delay resulted from a system disruption but assured that the issue had been resolved and measures put in place to prevent recurrence.
He also said the office had concluded arrangements for the payment of one month’s wage award arrears out of the three months outstanding to workers.
The wage award was introduced as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of economic reforms and rising living costs on public sector employees.
The latest development is expected to bring relief to federal workers and avert a potential nationwide strike earlier threatened by organised labour.
