Organised labour in the federal public service has issued a Friday ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate release of funds to settle three months’ outstanding wage awards and other pending allowances owed to workers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The demand was made through the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, which warned that failure to meet its February 27, 2026 deadline would compel the eight unions in the civil service to take decisive action.
The unions accused the Federal Government of deliberately withholding funds meant for workers, despite claims that relevant agencies are ready to process payments once funds are 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 although partial payments were made following sustained pressure, three months of the wage award have remained unpaid since July 2024, heightening tension within the federal workforce.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the union said the prolonged delay was unacceptable.
“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.
According to the unions, the wage award was introduced as a cushioning measure following fuel subsidy removal and was expected 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 the Federal Government left five months unpaid ab initio. Not until there was much pressure did the government effect the staggered payment of two months, leaving the balance of three months since July 2024 unpaid,” the statement added.
The JNPSNC further alleged that government agencies responsible for processing the payments are prepared to act 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 Honourable Minister of Finance, who is deliberately holding back the money,” the unions claimed.
Beyond the wage award, organised labour listed other outstanding financial obligations requiring urgent attention. These include promotion arrears for workers promoted over three years ago, salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024, and the proper computation of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance based on the N70,000 minimum wage.
Warning of possible industrial unrest, the unions declared that if funds are not released on or before Friday, February 27, 2026, the national leadership would take “appropriate actions.”
They insisted that workers’ entitlements should not be treated lightly and urged the government to prevent unnecessary hardship caused by delayed payments.
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 of Nigeria, security agencies and affiliate unions for urgent attention.
