Union gives Finance Minister August 11 deadline to convene meeting, says prolonged silence over workers’ welfare is fuelling nationwide discontent.

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, has issued a fresh ultimatum to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, demanding an urgent meeting over unresolved welfare issues affecting federal public servants, including unpaid wage awards and the delayed implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

Naija News reports that the union called on the minister to convene the meeting on or before August 11, 2026, warning that continued delay could trigger industrial action across the federal public service. The council said the meeting was necessary to resolve the non-payment of wage awards for March and April 2026, as well as the failure to implement the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved for eligible federal workers.

The demand was contained in a letter signed by the National Secretary of the council, Gbenga Olowoyo, on behalf of the National Chairman, Benjamin Yanto. According to the union, despite writing twice to the minister over the outstanding issues, the Ministry of Finance has neither acknowledged nor responded to its correspondence.

The council stated that the proposed meeting would provide an opportunity for both the Federal Government and organised labour to resolve the outstanding issues amicably before the situation escalates into a nationwide industrial crisis.

“The national leadership expects that this meeting will help to address the above-stated outstanding issues to prevent palpable disquiet and the brewing industrial crisis,” the letter stated.

Workers Demand Immediate Implementation

The JNPSNC explained that one of its major demands is the immediate implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). The allowance, according to the union, was approved through a circular signed by the Executive Chairman of the commission, Mr Eyo Nta, with an effective date of May 1, 2026.

However, the council lamented that several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have yet to implement the directive months after its approval, leaving thousands of eligible federal workers without the approved benefits.

The union also insisted that the outstanding wage awards for March and April 2026 should have been paid alongside workers’ salaries during the affected months, describing the delay as unjustifiable given previous agreements reached between the Federal Government and organised labour.

Union Accuses Minister Of Ignoring Correspondence

The council revealed that it first wrote to the Minister of Finance on May 5, 2026, requesting the payment of the outstanding wage awards. When there was no response, it sent another letter on July 9, 2026, demanding both the payment of the arrears and the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

According to the union, both letters were ignored.

“To the surprise of the national leadership, none of the letters was responded to, let alone addressing the sensitive issues raised therein,” the council said.

The union further accused the finance ministry of maintaining what it described as a deliberate silence that has created anxiety among federal workers and raised concerns over the government’s commitment to honouring agreements reached with labour unions.

“It is informative to add that the entire public servants have viewed the silence of the Minister of Finance since his resumption as minister as a surreptitious and clandestine way of compromising the necessary essence of directing the Accountant-General of the Federation to effect the full payment of the two months’ outstanding wage award and the implementation of the circular on the 40 per cent peculiar allowance effective May 1, 2026,” the letter added.

Warning Over Possible Strike

The JNPSNC warned that its latest request should be regarded as a final effort to resolve the matter through dialogue before workers resort to industrial action.

The council stressed that the growing frustration among public servants could lead to nationwide protests and disruptions across the federal civil service if the government continues to ignore the union’s demands.

“This request should be seen as a proactive approach from the national leadership to avert drastic actions from workers due to your insensitive silence to our two previous letters,” the letter warned.

The JNPSNC serves as the official negotiating body representing trade unions within the federal public service on issues relating to salaries, allowances and conditions of service.

Pressure Mounts On Federal Government

The latest warning adds to increasing pressure on the Federal Government to fulfil agreements reached with organised labour following the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023 and the sharp rise in the cost of living.

As part of efforts to cushion the economic hardship caused by the subsidy removal, the government introduced a temporary monthly wage award pending the implementation of a new national minimum wage. Although several instalments of the wage award have been paid, labour unions insist that the March and April 2026 payments remain outstanding.

In addition, labour leaders continue to demand the full implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, arguing that many federal workers across various ministries, departments and agencies are yet to benefit from the directive despite its effective date of May 1, 2026.

With the August 11 deadline approaching, attention is now focused on the Federal Ministry of Finance and whether it will engage labour leaders to prevent another round of industrial unrest within the federal public service.