By Samuel Olusegun Precious
Abuja- The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side, has warned of labour unrest from federal workers if the government fails to meet their demands before 11 August, 2026.
The unions appealed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to hold an emergency meeting over the delay in the payment of two months’ wage award by the federal government and the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance for its workers.
Labour unions said they have asked for a meeting with the minister on or before August 11, after which the workers might embark on indsutrial action.
In a letter addressed to Mr Oloyede signed by its National Secretary, Gbenga Olowoyo, for the National Chairman, Benjamin Yanto, it expressed disappointment that two previous letters on the matter had received no response.
The council, in the letter, said the meeting was to resolve workers’ outstanding welfare demands and avert what it described as a “brewing industrial crisis.”
The letter reads: “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 two unresolved issues, according to the union are: the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the payment of two months’ outstanding wage award covering March and April 2026.
It said the allowance was approved through a circular signed by the Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Eyo Nta, with effect from May 1, 2026, but not yet implemented.
The labour union also said the outstanding wage award for March and April should have been paid alongside workers’ salaries for those months.
You will recall that the Federal Government had introduced a temporary monthly wage award as part of an agreement with organised labour pending the implementation of a new national minimum wage.
