The Federal Government has instructed that the outstanding two-month wage award owed to federal civil servants be settled on or before August 15, 2026. The directive followed a high-level meeting between the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and leaders of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC).
The agreement, reached just before the expiration of the union’s deadline, prevented a planned industrial action after the JNPSNC suspended its August 11 ultimatum to the minister over unresolved staff welfare concerns.
The meeting, held on Thursday, was chaired by the minister and attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (Accounts), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (Special Duties), the minister’s Chief of Staff, directors, special advisers, and other senior ministry officials.
Representing labour was 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 stood in for the National Chairman of the JNPSNC.
Also present 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; alongside other labour representatives.
Following extensive discussions, both sides agreed that the outstanding two-month wage award would be paid no later than August 15.
The minister further assured union leaders that the Federal Government would facilitate payment of the long-awaited 40 per cent peculiar allowance through a supplementary budget. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Finance will collaborate with the Budget Office to secure the required funds for the allowance.
Discussions also covered unpaid promotion arrears, with the government confirming that payment arrangements for batches seven and nine had been resolved.
During the meeting, the minister stressed the importance of maintaining regular dialogue with organised labour to sustain a cordial relationship with union leaders and ensure prompt attention to workers’ welfare matters.
Earlier, Kabiru Ado, representing the National Chairman of the JNPSNC, Benjamin Anto Uyanto, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to defending 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, explained that the union leadership intervened to avert an industrial dispute. 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 minister spontaneously.”
Speaking after the meeting, Olowoyo confirmed that the August 11 ultimatum had been suspended following the agreements reached with the government. He said: “With the successful meeting with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, the ultimatum of August 11 issued ab initio has been suspended.”
He, however, cautioned that organised labour would closely monitor the government’s implementation of all resolutions reached during the meeting.