Organised labour in the federal public service has given the Federal Government a deadline of Friday, February 27, 2026, to release funds for the payment of three months’ outstanding wage award and other pending allowances owed to workers across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
The warning was issued by the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, which said failure to meet the deadline would force the eight unions in the civil service to take decisive action.
Labour leaders accused the government of deliberately withholding funds meant for workers, despite reports that the relevant agencies were ready to process and disburse the payments once the funds were made available.
The dispute over the wage award has lasted for more than two years. It began after the Federal Government approved a ₦70,000 minimum wage as part of measures to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
According to labour, although some payments were made after persistent pressure, three months of the wage award have remained unpaid since July 2024. The delay, they said, has continued to create frustration and tension among federal workers.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the union expressed disappointment over the prolonged delay.
“This wage award has dragged on for over two years since the approval and implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage payment,” the letter stated.
The unions explained that the wage award was introduced as a temporary relief measure following the removal of fuel subsidy and was expected to run until the full implementation of the new minimum wage in July 2024.
They also recalled that five months were initially left unpaid until pressure from organised labour forced the government to release funds for only two months, leaving an outstanding balance of three months.
“It is beyond the imagination and expectations of federal workers that five months were left unpaid initially. After much pressure, the government paid only two months, leaving three months unpaid since July 2024,” the union said.
The JNPSNC further alleged that government agencies responsible for processing the payments were willing and ready to pay workers but were unable to do so because the Ministry of Finance had not released the necessary funds.
“Information available to us shows that all relevant agencies are prepared to make the payments, but they are being constrained by the non-release of funds by the Ministry of Finance,” the letter added.
The unions warned that failure to release the funds before the deadline would trigger industrial action.
“If the funds are not released on or before Friday, February 27, 2026, the national leadership will take appropriate action to ensure that workers’ rights and entitlements are protected,” the statement warned.
They stressed that workers should not be subjected to unnecessary hardship due to delays in the payment of approved entitlements.
Copies of the letter were also sent 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 immediate attention and necessary action.
Federal Workers Issue Ultimatum Over Unpaid Wage Award, Threaten Industrial Action
