Workers warn over delayed 40% allowance, promotion arrears

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Civil servants have written to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, issuing a fresh warning over the delayed implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and payment of outstanding promotion arrears, telling him that “a stitch in time saves nine.”

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The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side, urged the minister to urgently implement the allowance and clear the promotion arrears for batches seven and nine, warning that continued delay was fuelling restiveness among public servants.

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In a letter signed by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, the council acknowledged the Federal Government’s recent payment of two months’ outstanding wage award but said the 40 per cent allowance remained unresolved.

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The council recalled that it had earlier written to the minister on July 9, 2026, over the issues, following which the minister met with its leadership on August 5.

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It commended the minister for responding to its earlier appeal, saying, “The National leadership of JNPSNC wishes to acknowledge and commend your office for walking the talk with appreciable intervention.”

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It added that the minister had acted on the resolutions reached during the meeting, particularly the payment of the outstanding wage award.

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The council said, “It is on the strength of the above that the national leadership wishes to appreciate your office for acting resourcefully on the resolutions arrived at the meeting the national leadership had with your revered person on Wednesday, 5th August, 2026.”

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It noted that the two months’ outstanding wage award was paid within the agreed timeline, “i.e. before 15th August, 2026.”

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However, the workers said another major issue raised during the meeting, which is the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, was yet to be resolved.

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“However, it will be recalled that another major issue that was presented before your esteemed person was the matter affecting the implementation of 40 per cent peculiar allowance that must reflect the N70,000 national minimum wage,” the letter stated.

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The council said the allowance was backed by a circular issued and signed by the then Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Eyo Nta, with implementation effective from May 1, 2026.

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The workers therefore appealed to Oyedele to act urgently, saying, “The essence of this letter is to once again invite your office to the urgent need to revisit this issue and accelerate the implementation of the circular without any administrative red-tape blockade.”

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The JNPSNC further rejected the possibility of financial constraints being used to delay implementation.

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“The national leadership of JNPSNC wants to state without hesitation that the Federal Government can implement this circular without a pinch of excuse(s) because resources are adequately available to pay the money,” it stated.

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On the promotion arrears, the council listed the payment for batches seven and nine among its two major outstanding demands, saying the arrears were “currently hanging in the process of payment.”

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It specifically demanded, “the implementation of 40% peculiar allowance predicated on the circular issued by the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission… with effect from 1st May, 2026.”

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It also demanded, “payment of promotion arrears of batches seven (7) and nine (9) that are currently hanging in the process of payment.”

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While seeking to avoid another confrontation with the government, the workers urged the minister to act before the situation deteriorated.

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The council said it was “very expedient and desirable” for the government to implement the allowance “without attracting any ultimatum.”

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It based the appeal on what it described as the trust established during the August meeting with the minister.

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“Arising from the above and taking a very cue from the trust and confidence built during the meeting the national leadership had with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy on Wednesday, 5th August, 2026, it is very expedient and desirable for the implementation of the extant circular,” it stated.

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However, the strongest warning in the letter came over the growing dissatisfaction among workers.

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The JNPSNC told the minister that “there is no doubting the fact that potential spontaneous reactions are building up among workers due to restiveness on this subject matter in the public service among public servants.”

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The council ended its warning with the admonition, “A stitch in time saves nine.”

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The latest letter comes after the government pays the outstanding wage award, which followed earlier pressure from organised labour over unpaid entitlements.

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The council’s latest intervention indicates that while the wage award issue has been addressed, the implementation of the 40 per cent allowance and payment of promotion arrears remain unresolved issues capable of generating further tension within the public service.

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