FG Directs Payment Of Civil Servants’ Outstanding Wage Award By August 15
The Federal Government has directed the payment of the outstanding two-month wage award owed to federal civil servants on or before August 15, 2026, following a high-level meeting between the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, and the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC).
The agreement, reached after extensive deliberations, led to the suspension of the August 11 ultimatum earlier issued by the JNPSNC to the Minister’s office over unresolved workers’ welfare issues.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, was chaired by the Minister and attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Accounts), the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Special Duties), the Chief of Staff to the Minister, directors, special advisers and other senior officials of the ministry.
The labour delegation was led by Comrade Kabiru Ado, National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and National Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who represented the National Chairman of the JNPSNC.
Other members of the delegation included the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga; the National Assistant Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of MHWUN, Comrade Kiyawa; and other labour leaders.
Both parties agreed that the outstanding two-month wage award would be paid on or before August 15.
The Minister also assured labour leaders that the Federal Government would facilitate the payment of the long-awaited 40 per cent peculiar allowance through a supplementary budget.
According to the resolution, the Ministry of Finance will work with the Budget Office to secure the necessary funding for the allowance.
The meeting also revisited the issue of outstanding promotion arrears, with the government agreeing that the payment processes for batches seven and nine had been resolved.
Speaking during the meeting, Oyedele emphasised the need for continuous engagement with organised labour to strengthen cordial working relationships with union leaders and ensure the timely resolution of workers’ welfare issues.
Earlier, Ado, who represented the National Chairman of the JNPSNC, Benjamin Anto Uyanto, reassured the Minister of the council’s commitment to protecting workers’ interests.
He said the JNPSNC remained ready to ensure that workers’ welfare was not undermined.
In his remarks, the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the intervention of the union leadership was aimed at preventing an industrial crisis.
He said the action of the JNPSNC leadership was intended to prevent national embarrassment for the Federal Government, noting that workers were prepared to occupy the office of the Minister of Finance.
Olowoyo urged government officials and agencies to honour agreements reached with workers and improve communication with labour unions.
He said government officials and agencies should always implement decisions and promises made to workers while maintaining effective communication channels to prevent misunderstandings.
He explained that the inability of the Minister’s office to respond to several correspondences from the JNPSNC led to the issuance of the ultimatum.
Speaking after the meeting, Olowoyo announced the suspension of the August 11 ultimatum following the agreements reached with the Federal Government.
He, however, said the JNPSNC would closely monitor the implementation of the resolutions, warning that workers would take further action if the agreements were not honoured.
