Civil servants give FG Tuesday strike notice over withheld N70,000 wage allowance

…Angry workers demand urgent payment or showdown

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Tension is mounting across Nigeria’s public service as civil servants, under the umbrella of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, have issued a Tuesday, March 31 deadline to the Federal Government over the delayed payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance tied to the N70,000 minimum wage.

The workers warned that failure to act before the deadline could trigger industrial action, raising fears of a nationwide disruption as frustration deepens among thousands of affected employees.

In a letter addressed to the Executive Chairman of Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, National Chairman and National Secretary of JNPSNC (Trade Union Side), Benjamin Uyantomni and Olowoyo Gbenga, respectively, said “The National Leadership of the JNPSNC (Trade Union Side), is constrained to draw the attention of the management of the NSIWC to the undue delay in issuing the appropriate circular and salary templates required to facilitate the payment of the 40% peculiar allowance to federal public servants.

“This allowance is expected to reflect the approved N70,000 national minimum wage, which has been in effect since July 2024 following its enactment into law.

“We wish to remind the Commission of the earlier circular on this subject, personally signed by the then Executive Chairman, Mr. Ekpo U. O. Nta, dated 10th March 2023. This confirms that the request for the 40% peculiar allowance is not new, as it had already been approved and implementation commenced during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Regrettably, the comprehensive presentation made by the National Leadership of JNPSNC—intended to assist the Commission in facilitating the approval and seamless implementation of the allowance—appears to have been abandoned.

“It will also be recalled that a letter dated 1st September 2025, was submitted to your esteemed office on this matter. However, no action has been taken to date.

“This deliberate action has denied thousands of public servants their rightful entitlement to the 40% peculiar allowance aligned with the N70,000 minimum wage structure.

Such delay poses a serious threat to industrial harmony within the public service. “The National Leadership of the JNPSNC is not unaware of the promptness with which your esteemed office previously acted on a similar matter.

“Specifically, we note the expedited processing of the request from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, conveyed via your letter dated 15th August 2025 duly signed by Mr. Ekpo U. O. Nta, and the subsequent approval granted through Ref: SGF.5/S.4/T3/883 dated 18th August 2025. This action was commendable and widely applauded by the JNPSNC.

“In the same vein, approvals were granted during both the separate and joint meetings of the JNPSNC held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State (28th–30th October 2024), as well as at the 46th Meeting of the National Council on Establishment held in Osogbo, Osun State, on 8th November 2024. These approvals covered the payment of hazard allowance to agricultural officers in the public service at both national and sub-national levels.

“Regrettably, the NSIWC is yet to issue the necessary circular to give effect to this decision, despite its formal transmission to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for appropriate action.

“In view of the foregoing, the National Leadership of the JNPSNC, at its meeting held on Monday, 9th March 2026—attended by National Presidents and General Secretaries of all affiliate unions—resolved to demand immediate action on these critical matters. The patience of thousands of affected workers has been severely overstretched.

“Accordingly, we demand a positive response from the NSIWC on or before Tuesday, 31st March 2026. Failure to comply will leave the Council with no option but to take necessary action. No retreat, no surrender.”