Nigeria’s Federal Government has directed that the outstanding two-month N35,000 wage award owed to federal civil servants be paid on or before August 15, 2026, easing tensions with organised labour and averting a planned industrial confrontation.
The commitment followed a meeting on Wednesday between officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) in Abuja. The talks resulted in the suspension of a strike ultimatum earlier issued by the council, providing temporary relief from the prospect of disruptions across the federal public service.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, the release of funds for the outstanding wage award is at the final approval stage, with payments expected to commence before the middle of August.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, who chaired the meeting, said the government remained committed to fulfilling agreements reached with workers while maintaining open dialogue with organised labour.
He said outstanding obligations would be implemented within realistic timelines, adding that the government preferred constructive engagement to industrial disputes.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the ministry, including Permanent Secretaries Raymond Omachi and Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, Director of Cash Management Christiana Osho, special advisers and other top government officials.
Labour was represented by Kabiru Ado, National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, alongside JNPSNC National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga and other union leaders.
Gbenga said the council had issued its ultimatum because previous correspondence to the ministry had gone unanswered, warning that workers were prepared to stage protests if the issues remained unresolved. He described the latest engagement as a positive step toward restoring confidence between the government and public sector employees.
Beyond the wage award, government officials also addressed other longstanding welfare concerns. The Finance Ministry said it would work with the Budget Office to secure funding through a supplementary budget for the implementation of the 40% peculiar allowance, a special compensation approved for eligible categories of federal workers but yet to be fully funded.
Officials also confirmed that outstanding promotion arrears are being processed. According to the ministry, Batch 7 promotion arrears, previously omitted during an earlier payment exercise, are being processed together with Batch 9, with affected officers expected to receive their entitlements once verification is completed.
The wage award was introduced in October 2023 as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy, pending the conclusion of negotiations on a new national minimum wage. The settlement of the remaining arrears is expected to improve industrial relations, reinforce confidence in government commitments and reduce the risk of further labour disputes within the federal civil service.
