*40% allowance, promotion arrears to be paid later
*Last-minute deal saves FG from Labour showdown
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
The Federal Government has directed that the outstanding two-month wage award owed to federal civil servants be paid on or before August 15, 2026, following a high-level meeting between the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC.
The breakthrough, reached at the last minute, effectively averted a planned labour confrontation after the JNPSNC suspended its August 11 ultimatum issued to the Minister’s office over unresolved workers’ welfare issues.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, was personally chaired by the Minister and attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Accounts), the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Special Duties), the Chief of Staff to the Minister, directors, special advisers and other senior officials of the ministry.
The labour delegation was led by Comrade Kabiru Ado, National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and National Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who represented the National Chairman of the JNPSNC. Also in attendance were the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga; the National Assistant Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of MHWUN, Comrade Kiyawa; and other labour leaders.
After extensive deliberations, both parties agreed that the outstanding two-month wage award would be paid on or before August 15.
The Minister also assured labour leaders that the Federal Government would facilitate the payment of the long-awaited 40 per cent peculiar allowance through a supplementary budget.
According to the resolution, the Ministry of Finance will work with the Budget Office to secure the necessary funding for the allowance.
The meeting also revisited the issue of outstanding promotion arrears, with government agreeing that payment processes for batches seven and nine had been resolved.
Speaking during the meeting, the Minister emphasized the need for continuous engagement with organised labour to strengthen cordial working relationships with union leaders and ensure timely resolution of workers’ welfare issues.
Earlier, Kabiru Ado, who represented the National Chairman of the JNPSNC, Benjamin Anto Uyanto, mni, reassured the Minister of the council’s commitment to protecting workers’ interests.
He said the JNPSNC remained ready “to ensure workers welfare are not subjugated.”
In his remarks, the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the intervention of the union leadership was aimed at preventing an industrial crisis.
He said, “The action of the National leadership of JNPSNC was to prevent National embarrassment to the Federal Government because workers were ready to occupy the Office of the Honourable Minister spontaneously.”
He further urged government officials and agencies to honour agreements reached with workers and improve communication with labour unions.
According to him, “Government officials and agencies of government should always implement decisions and promises to workers without any collapse in communication channels to avoid insinuations.”
He also explained the reason behind the ultimatum earlier issued to the Minister’s office, saying, “The inability of the Honourable Minister of Finance office to respond to our various correspondences led to the ultimatum issued to the Honourable Minister’s office.”
Speaking after the meeting, Olowoyo announced that the August 11 ultimatum had been suspended following the agreements reached with the government.
He said, “With the successful meeting with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, the ultimatum of August 11th issued ab initio has been suspended.”
However, he warned that organised labour would closely monitor the implementation of the resolutions reached at the meeting.
According to him, “The leadership of JNPSNC, Trade Union Side, will monitor the implementation of our resolutions at the meeting; any iota of failed implementation, workers will not hesitate to picket the Office of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy without any ultimatum.”
The post FG orders payment of civil servants’ outstanding wage award before August 15 appeared first on Vanguard News.