February 26, (THEWILL) — Organised labour in the federal public service has threatened nationwide industrial action over delayed wage award payments to federal workers in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), warningthat failure by the Government to release outstanding funds by Friday, February 27, 2026, would force them to take decisive steps.
Speaking in a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the trade union chapter of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) accused the government of deliberately withholding funds, despite all relevant agencies being ready to process payments once the money is released.
The dispute over the wage award has persisted for more than two years, following the Federal Government’s approval of a ₦70,000 minimum wage introduced as a cushioning measure after the removal of fuel subsidy.
The labour leaders stated that while partial payments were made after sustained pressure, three months of the wage award have remained unpaid since July 2024, creating growing dissatisfaction among federal workers.
“This wage award has dragged on for over two years now since the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage payment was approved”, the unions wrote, noting that federal workers were initially owed five months, two of which were eventually settled through staggered payments, leaving three months still outstanding.
The workers further alleged that government agencies responsible for effecting payments had completed all necessary procedures but were constrained by the non-release of funds from the Ministry of Finance.
“Available information revealed that all government agencies responsible for the payment of the wage award are ready to pay, but this is subject to the release of funds by the Minister of Finance, who is deliberately holding back the money”, the letter stated.
Beyond the wage award, the unions listed other urgent financial obligations, including promotion arrears for workers promoted more than three years ago, salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024, and proper implementation of the 40 percent peculiar allowance based on the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Warning of imminent industrial unrest, the JNPSNC stressed that if the funds are not released before the Friday deadline, the unions’ national leadership would “take the bull by the horns” and ensure appropriate actions are taken.
The union emphasised that civil servants’ entitlements should not be treated lightly and insisted that employees should not be subjected to undue hardship over delayed payments.
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