The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side, has urged the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to convene an urgent meeting over the delayed payment of two months’ wage award and the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal workers.

The union said it was seeking an audience with the minister on or before August 11, warning that failure to resolve the issues could spark unrest among public servants.

In a letter addressed to the minister and signed by the National Secretary of the council, Gbenga Olowoyo, on behalf of the National Chairman, Benjamin Yanto, the union expressed disappointment that two previous letters on the matter had received no response.

According to the JNPSNC, the requested meeting was intended to find an amicable resolution to workers’ outstanding welfare demands and avert what it described as a “brewing industrial crisis.”

It said, “The national leadership expects that this meeting will help to address the above-stated outstanding issues to prevent palpable disquiet and the brewing industrial crisis.”

The council said its demands centred on two unresolved issues: the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the payment of two months’ outstanding wage award covering March and April 2026.

The union noted that the allowance was approved through a circular signed by the Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Eyo Nta, with effect from May 1, 2026, but had yet to be implemented.

It also insisted that the outstanding wage award for March and April ought to have been paid alongside workers’ salaries for those months.

The JNPSNC recalled that it first wrote to the minister on May 5, 2026, requesting payment of the outstanding wage award, and followed it up with another letter dated July 9, 2026, seeking both implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and payment of the wage award arrears.

“To the surprise of the national leadership, none of the letters was responded to, let alone addressing the sensitive issues raised therein,” the union said.

The council further alleged that the prolonged silence from the finance ministry had heightened anxiety among federal workers.

“It is informative to add that the entire public servants have viewed the silence of the Minister of Finance since his resumption as minister as a surreptitious and clandestine way of compromising the necessary essence of directing the Accountant General of the Federation to effect the full payment of the two months’ outstanding wage award and the implementation of the circular on the 40 per cent peculiar allowance effective May 1, 2026,” the letter added.

Warning of possible consequences if the issues remain unresolved, the union said its latest request should be regarded as an effort to prevent workers from embarking on drastic actions.

“This request should be seen as a proactive approach from the national leadership to avert drastic actions from workers due to your insensitive silence to our two previous letters,” it stated.

The JNPSNC is the umbrella negotiating body representing unions across the federal public service on issues relating to salaries, allowances and conditions of service.

The latest warning adds to growing pressure on the Federal Government to fully implement agreements reached with organised labour following the 2023 fuel subsidy removal and the introduction of measures aimed at cushioning the impact of rising living costs on workers.

The Federal Government had introduced a temporary monthly wage award as part of an agreement with organised labour pending the implementation of a new national minimum wage.

Although payments were made for several months, labour unions have continued to complain about outstanding arrears, particularly the unpaid wage award for March and April 2026.

Similarly, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission issued a circular approving a 40 per cent peculiar allowance for eligible federal public servants with effect from May 1, 2026.

However, labour leaders have maintained that many Ministries, Departments and Agencies are yet to implement the directive, fuelling fresh agitation among workers. (PUNCH)

Update news