₦airaland Forum

Wage arrears: Labour issues Friday ultimatum to FG

Organised labour in the federal public service has issued a Friday deadline to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate release of funds to settle three months’ outstanding wage awards and other pending allowances owed to workers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) conveyed the ultimatum in a letter addressed to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, warning that failure to meet the February 27, 2026, deadline would compel the eight unions in the civil service to take decisive action.

The unions accused the government of withholding funds meant for workers, alleging that relevant agencies were prepared to process payments once the Ministry of Finance released the required funds.

The wage award dispute, which has persisted for over two years, followed the Federal Government’s approval of a N70,000 minimum wage after the removal of fuel subsidy.

Labour leaders stated that although partial payments were made after sustained pressure, three months remain unpaid since July 2024, heightening tension within the federal workforce.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the union stated: “This wage award has dragged on for over two years now since the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage payment was approved.”

The unions recalled that “the wage award was approved as a cushioning measure following fuel subsidy removal and was to run until the commencement of the new minimum wage implementation in July 2024.

"It is beyond the imagination and expectations of federal workers that the Federal Government left five months unpaid ab initio; not until there was much pressure did the Federal Government effect the staggered payment of two months, leaving the balance of three months since July 2024 unpaid.”

The JNPSNC further alleged that “all relevant government agencies responsible for effecting payment are prepared to do so but are constrained by the non-release of funds by the Ministry of Finance.

“Available information revealed that all government agencies responsible for the payment of the wage award are ready to pay, but this is subject to the release of funds by the Honourable Minister of Finance, who is deliberately holding back the money.”

Beyond the wage award arrears, the unions listed other outstanding obligations requiring urgent attention, including promotion arrears for workers elevated more than three years ago, salary arrears for employees recruited between 2015 and 2024, and the proper implementation of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance based on the N70,000 minimum wage.

Warning of possible industrial action, the unions declared: “If the money meant for the payment of the wage award is not released on or before Friday, 27th February, 2026, the national leadership will take the bull by the horn and ensure appropriate actions are taken.”

They insisted that workers’ entitlements must not be treated with levity and that employees should not be subjected to undue hardship over delayed payments.

Copies of the letter were also forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, security agencies and affiliate unions for urgent attention.

https://punchng.com/wage-arrears-labour-issues-friday-ultimatum-to-fg/

Tinubu and 419 behaviour sha

This is very insensitive of government. Pay the workers their monies!

When you have a weak and irresponsible president that doesn't know how to rank things in order of priority

OkY . Very good. A labourer is worthy of his “wages” o

This is long over due. Fg should take immediate action to address this

symbianDON:
This is very insensitive of government. Pay the workers their monies!

Can you imagine how much the N35,000 wage award will be worth today compared to October 2023 when it was announced?

Why are leaders looters in All Promises Cancelled, APC so wicked

Subtility and Tinubu are like 5 & 6.
Why are labour Union not talking about States?

Brendaniel:
Tinubu and 419 behaviour sha

He has been like this since forever.

He was the worst rogue among the progreThief AD governors in 1999.

His political success has inspired other politicians to follow his wicked example in governance.

anonimi:
Nigeria: Pensioners Urge Tinubu to Pay Arrears

26 March 2003
This Day (Lagos)


Lagos — Pension teachers in Lagos State under the aegis of Teacher Pensioners of Nigeria (TEPAN) have urged Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to review his stance on paying the harmonised three year old outstanding pension allowance or risk losing their votes.

In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of TEPAN, Mr. Ayodabo 'Lade, accused Tinubu of failing to pay the arrears to teachers on their correct pension grade since the year 2000, contrary to what was obtainable in other five States of the South-west controlled by the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

https://allafrica.com/stories/200303260385.html

SpaceX:
When you have a weak and irresponsible president that doesn't know how to rank things in order of priority

Government that will not respond when Nigerians are killed in their thousands, is it the one to pay workers their wage.

Stone cold criminal as a president.

Very irresponsible government

Today is 28th February already. Yesterday, they were invited for a meeting with the president. Whether rhe purpose was due to this warning or not nobody can't tell.

See them doing opposition. No superior ideas. Just nsogbu nsogbu how can we cause problems.

symbianDON:
This is very insensitive of government. Pay the workers their monies!

Coming from someone who doesn't work or probably pays slave labour of about 10k to 25k. Right?

This is the most unproductive NLC in the history of Nigeria. Labour is so compromised to the extent that there are now like toothles bulldogs who can only bark but can not bite.
They no longer fight for the Nigerian masses but only their pockets.

abeg strike o, we need the holiday

So you waited for almost 2 years for fight for 70k for workers, you should be ashamed of yourself

which Labour abeg

sorry the serious ones are not yet born

Charlatans! Activists publicly, politicians privately. They pretend to be the voice of the people during the day while wine and dine with those who impoverish the masses at night. You only hear their voices when their stomach craves for a chunk of the proverbial national cake.

Chinjo2:
This is the most unproductive NLC in the history of Nigeria. Labour is so compromised to the extent that there are now like toothles bulldogs who can only bark but can not bite.
They no longer fight for the Nigerian masses but only their pockets.

this one has commented from the headline without reading the story.

Dunamai86:
Charlatans! Activists publicly, politicians privately. They pretend to be the voice of the people during the day while wine and dine with those who impoverish the masses at night. You only hear their voices when their stomach craves for a chunk of the proverbial national cake.

this one has also commented from the headline without reading the story

Abioladoks:
which Labour abeg

sorry the serious ones are not yet born

oga read the story first. Don't be a lazy youth

Look at them. They want to start threatening with strike again. Nah God go purnish una

Paying civil servants 70k....Omo, we dey really suffer for this country I swear. With everything we have in this country we're still worse than most poor countries that do not have up 5% of resources we have

This is what labour union should busy itself with and not engaging in partisan politics. But why is the news coming out today, yesterday is 27 of February.

Bat is more interested in defections to apc than the welfare of the masses.

Rather than quietly pay workers their dues, he will want to turn it into a propaganda spectacle and shout how he is a listening leader when he is the complete opposite.

Guestmale:
This is what labour union should busy itself with and not engaging in partisan politics. But why is the news coming out today, yesterday is 27 of February.

Very true.

The day labour party was registered as a political party was when our labour finally get confused and begin to start to become toothless bulldog.

Let NLC abdicate themselves from LP to allow full time politicians to be in charge while they focus on their own main assignment as pressure group. That will be the beginning of virile opposition again in Nigeria

anonimi:
He has been like this since forever.

He was the worst rogue among the progreThief AD governors in 1999.

His political success has inspired other politicians to follow his wicked example in governance.

Aye mi ooo, so there are levels to hatred.

Yours is at the highest level. Humans...SMH

While president pikin dey do saraka with 100 million...

Knowledge is far from this government...