Organised labour in the federal civil service has issued a Friday deadline to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to ensure the release of funds covering three months of outstanding wage awards and other unpaid allowances owed to workers.
The ultimatum was contained in a letter from the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side), which fixed February 27, 2026, as the payment deadline.
The unions warned that failure to meet the deadline could trigger decisive industrial action across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The eight unions operating within the federal public service accused the government of delaying funds meant for workers’ entitlements, arguing that payment processing agencies are ready to disburse the money once the Federal Ministry of Finance authorises the release of funds.
The wage award dispute dates back over two years, following the Federal Government’s approval of a ₦70,000 minimum wage in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy as part of economic reforms.
In a separate correspondence addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the unions stated that the wage award was introduced as a temporary cushioning measure after subsidy removal and was expected to remain in place until the new minimum wage structure took effect in July 2024.
The unions expressed frustration that five months of the approved wage award were initially left unpaid, noting that only two months were later settled after sustained pressure, leaving a balance of three months outstanding since July 2024.
Although partial payments were eventually made, labour leaders insist that the remaining arrears continue to burden federal workers.
The council further alleged that the payment delay is linked to the non-release of funds by the Ministry of Finance, claiming that relevant government agencies responsible for payment are prepared to act once funding is approved.
According to the letter, “all agencies responsible for processing the payment are ready to pay, but are constrained by the non-release of funds by the Minister of Finance, who is allegedly withholding the funds.”
Beyond the wage award, the unions also demanded settlement of other outstanding obligations, including promotion arrears owed to workers promoted more than three years ago, unpaid salaries of employees recruited between 2015 and 2024, and the full implementation of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance associated with the ₦70,000 minimum wage structure.
Warning of possible industrial action, the unions stated: “If the funds for the wage award are not released on or before Friday, February 27, 2026, the national leadership will take necessary action to ensure workers’ interests are protected.”
Copies of the letter were also forwarded to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, as well as security agencies and affiliated unions, for urgent attention.
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