There are indications that the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side), may down tools over non-release of funds to offset three months’ outstanding wage awards and other pending allowances owed to workers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
BusinessDay gathered that despite several agitations, the relevant MDAs are yet to receive funds to settle the areas of the wage awards.
Recall that the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council had given the federal government up to last Friday, the February 27, to immediately release funds to offset three months’ outstanding wage awards.
The Council’s ultimatum was contained in a letter addressed to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, warning that “decisive action will be taken if the FG fails to meet the February 27, 2026″.
The Council declared that “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 horn and ensure appropriate actions are taken.”
It was gathered that the matter was earlier handed over to the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission NSIWC, to workout modalities for paying only those who are entitled to the award, according to a top public servant who is knowledgeable on the issue, who refused to have his name in print because, he is not permitted to speak
” The wage award is for a certain category of staff, not for everybody. So, the Commission is already saddled with the responsibilities to work on it”
The unions are also demanding an immediate action on promotion arrears for workers elevated more than three years ago, salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024, and the proper implementation of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance based on the N70,000 minimum wage.
The Council, representing about eight unions, in the federal Civil Service, accused the government of withholding funds meant for workers, alleging that relevant agencies were prepared to process payments once the Ministry of Finance released the required funds.
The wage award was approved as a stop gap measure to cushion hardships encountered by the civil servants, in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and was initiated to run until the commencement of the new national minimum wage implementation in July 2024.
They had also 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.
According to the unions, ” This wage award has dragged on for over two years now since the implementation of (N70,000) Minimum Wage Payment was approved.”
The unions noted that “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 worker blamed the current problem on the “non-release of funds” by the Federal Ministry of Finance”, adding 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”.
