Organised labour in the federal public service has given the federal government a Friday ultimatum to release funds owed for three months’ outstanding wage award and other pending allowances.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) warned that failure to meet the deadline would compel the eight unions representing civil servants to take “decisive action.”
The unions accused the government of deliberately withholding funds, despite ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) being ready to process payments once funds are released.
The dispute dates back over two years following the government’s approval of a ₦70,000 minimum wage after the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Labour leaders said while partial payments were made, three months remain unpaid since July 2024, fueling growing tension within the federal workforce.
In a letter to the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, the unions stated that relevant agencies were ready to pay workers but were constrained by “non-release of funds.”
The unions also demanded urgent attention to promotion arrears, salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024, and accurate payment of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance based on the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
The unions warned of impending industrial unrest, stressing that federal workers should not endure undue hardship due to delayed payments.
Copies of the letter were forwarded 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, and relevantsecurity agencies for urgent attention.