FG To Pay 2-Month Wage Award To Civil Servants On Or Before August 15

The Federal Government has directed that the outstanding two-month wage award owed to federal civil servants be paid on or before August 15, 2026.

The directive followed a high-level meeting on Wednesday, August 5, between the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC.

The meeting averted a planned labour confrontation after the JNPSNC suspended an August 11 ultimatum issued to the Minister’s office over unresolved workers’ welfare issues.

The Minister personally chaired the meeting. In attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Accounts, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, the Chief of Staff to the Minister, directors, special advisers and other senior ministry officials.

The labour delegation was led by Comrade Kabiru Ado, National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, and National Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. He represented the National Chairman of the JNPSNC.

Also present were the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga; the National Assistant Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of MHWUN, Comrade Kiyawa; and other labour leaders.

After extensive deliberations, both parties agreed that the outstanding two-month wage award would be paid on or before August 15.

The Minister also assured labour leaders that the Federal Government would facilitate payment of the long-awaited 40 per cent peculiar allowance through a supplementary budget.

According to the resolution, the Ministry of Finance will work with the Budget Office to secure the necessary funding for the allowance.

The meeting also addressed outstanding promotion arrears. Government confirmed that payment processes for batches seven and nine had been resolved.

Speaking at the meeting, Oyedele emphasized the need for continuous engagement with organised labour to strengthen working relationships and ensure timely resolution of workers’ welfare issues.

Earlier, Ado, who represented the National Chairman of the JNPSNC, Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto, mni, reassured the Minister of the council’s commitment to protecting workers’ interests.

He said the JNPSNC remained ready “to ensure workers’ welfare are not subjugated.”