Public Service Council Says Delay Is Fueling Restiveness, Urges Urgent Payment
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side (JNPSNC), has urged the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to urgently implement the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and pay outstanding promotion arrears owed to public servants.
In a letter signed by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, the council warned that continued delays were fuelling restiveness among workers, urging the minister to act because “a stitch in time saves nine.”
The council commended the Federal Government for paying two months of outstanding wage awards within the agreed timeline, following a meeting between its leadership and Oyedele on August 5, 2026.
However, it said the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, which was among the issues discussed at the meeting, remained unresolved.
According to the council, the allowance is backed by a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, with implementation effective from May 1, 2026, and is expected to reflect the N70,000 national minimum wage.
The JNPSNC appealed to Oyedele to accelerate implementation of the circular without administrative delays.
It also demanded payment of outstanding promotion arrears for batches seven and nine, which it said were still pending in the payment process.
The council rejected financial constraints as a reason for delaying the allowance, claiming that the Federal Government had sufficient resources to implement the circular.
While seeking to avoid another confrontation with the government, the workers urged the minister to resolve the issues without issuing an ultimatum.
The council warned that “potential spontaneous reactions are building up among workers” due to growing dissatisfaction over the unpaid entitlements in the public service.
It said the latest appeal was based on the trust established during its August meeting with the minister, adding that timely action could prevent further tension among public servants.