By Michael Oche
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has threatened to mobilise civil servants across the country for a nationwide protest if the Federal Government fails to pay the outstanding two months’ wage award and implement the 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal public servants.
The council issued the warning in a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, requesting an urgent meeting to resolve the lingering welfare issues affecting federal workers.
The letter, dated July 31, 2026, and jointly signed by the National Chairman of JNPSNC, Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto, mni, and the National Secretary, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga, accused the minister of ignoring previous correspondences on the outstanding workers’ entitlements.
According to the union, it had earlier written to the minister on May 5, 2026, requesting the payment of the outstanding two months’ wage award for federal public servants, and again on July 9, 2026, seeking the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance as approved in a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
The council lamented that neither of the letters received any response, describing the silence as unacceptable.
It stated that the outstanding issues requiring immediate government attention include the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, which was scheduled to take effect from May 1, 2026, and the payment of the remaining two months’ wage award covering March and April 2026. The union also listed promotion arrears among unresolved welfare concerns affecting workers.
JNPSNC requested an urgent meeting with the minister on or before Tuesday, August 11, 2026, to discuss the issues and avert what it described as a looming industrial crisis.
The union warned that the continued silence of the minister had been interpreted by public servants as an attempt to frustrate the payment of the outstanding wage award and delay the implementation of the approved allowance.
It stressed that the request for dialogue should be seen as a proactive effort to prevent workers from embarking on drastic actions.
“It is the expectation of the National leadership that this meeting will help address the critical outstanding issues in order to prevent palpable disquiet and the brewing industrial crisis,” the letter stated.
The council further warned that if the issues remain unresolved, Nigerian workers would have no option but to embark on nationwide protest and other industrial actions.
JNPSNC disclosed that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other relevant government officials had been informed of the situation and the possibility of coordinated action should the government fail to address the workers’ demands.
The union maintained that the welfare of public servants should remain a priority, urging the Federal Government to honour its commitments and engage with labour leaders without further delay.
