By Victor Ahiuma-Young
Abuja — Organised labour in the federal public service has issued a Friday ultimatum to the federal government to release funds to settle three months’ outstanding wage award and other pending allowances owed workers in ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs.
The leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, (Trade Union Side), labour warned that failure to meet its Friday, February 27, 2026, deadline would compel the eight unions in the civil service to take decisive action.
They accused the federal government of deliberately withholding funds meant for workers, despite agencies reportedly being ready to process payments once funds were released.
The wage award dispute, which has lingered for over two years, followed the federal government’s approval of a N70,000 minimum wage after the removal of fuel subsidy.
Labour leaders said while partial payments were made after sustained pressure, three months remained unpaid since July 2024, creating growing tension within the federal workforce.
Addressing the matter in a letter to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the union stated: “This wage award has dragged on for over two years now since the implementation of (N70,000) Minimum Wage Payment was approved.”
The unions recalled that “the wage award was approved as a cushioning measure, following fuel subsidy removal and was to run until the commencement of the new minimum wage implementation in July 2024.
“It is beyond the imagination and expectations of federal workers that federal government left five months unpaid abinitio, not until there was much pressure, there and then, federal government effected the staggered payment of two months, leaving the balance of three months since July, 2024 unpaid.”
The JNPSNC further alleged that “all relevant government agencies responsible for effecting payment are prepared to do so but are constrained by the non-release of funds by the ministry of finance.
“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 minister of finance who is deliberately holding back the money.”
Beyond the wage award, the unions listed other financial obligations it said required urgent attention,
including promotion arrears for workers promoted over three years ago; salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024; and accurate payment of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance based on the N70,000 minimum wage.
Warning of looming industrial unrest, the unions declared: “If the money meant for the payment of the wage award is not released on or before Friday, February 27, 2026, the national leadership will take the bull by the horns and ensure appropriate actions are taken.”
They added that workers’ entitlements should not be treated lightly, insisting that employees should not be made to suffer undue hardship over delayed payments.
Copies of the letter were also 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 urgent attention and necessary action.
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