Organised labour in Nigeria’s federal public service has handed the government a Friday deadline to release funds for three months of outstanding wage awards and other unpaid allowances, warning that failure to act could trigger industrial action across ministries and agencies.
In a letter addressed to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) said the eight unions representing civil servants would be “compelled to take decisive action” if payments were not made by 27 February 2026.
The dispute centres on a wage award introduced after the federal government approved a ₦70,000 minimum wage in the wake of fuel subsidy removal. The award was designed as a temporary cushion for workers until full implementation of the new minimum wage in July 2024.
Union leaders say the arrangement has instead become a protracted source of grievance.
“This wage award has dragged on for over two years now since the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage payment was approved,” the council wrote in a separate letter to the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.
According to the unions, five months of payments were initially left unpaid. After sustained pressure, two months were settled in staggered instalments, but three months have remained outstanding since July 2024.
“It is beyond the imagination and expectations of federal workers that the Federal Government left five months unpaid ab initio,” the letter said. “Not until there was much pressure did the Federal Government effect the staggered payment of two months, leaving the balance of three months since July 2024 unpaid.”
The council alleged that the delay was not due to administrative bottlenecks within ministries, departments and agencies, but rather to the non-release of funds by 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 honourable minister of finance, who is deliberately holding back the money,” the unions said.
Beyond the wage award arrears, labour leaders listed a series of unresolved claims: promotion arrears for workers elevated more than three years ago; salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024; and what they describe as the proper implementation of a 40% peculiar allowance tied to the new minimum wage.
In a pointed warning, the unions declared: “If the money meant for the payment of the wage award is not released on or before Friday, 27th February, 2026, the national leadership will take the bull by the horn and ensure appropriate actions are taken.”
Copies of the correspondence were sent to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, security agencies and affiliate unions, signalling that the standoff could escalate quickly.
For a government already grappling with economic reform and public discontent over the cost of living, the threat of disruption within the federal civil service adds another layer of pressure.
