Workers warn Oyedele over delayed 40% allowance, promotion arrears

Public servants have warned the Federal Government against further delays in implementing the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and paying outstanding promotion arrears, saying prolonged inaction is increasing discontent across the public service.

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side, raised the concerns in a fresh letter to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.

The council acknowledged the recent payment of two months’ outstanding wage award but said the government was yet to implement the 40 per cent allowance or settle promotion arrears owed to batches seven and nine.

It urged Oyedele to intervene urgently, warning that workers’ dissatisfaction over the unresolved issues could trigger spontaneous reactions.

The letter, signed by the council’s National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, followed an earlier correspondence dated July 9, 2026, and a meeting between the union leadership and the minister on August 5.

The council commended Oyedele for acting on one of the resolutions reached at the meeting, particularly the payment of the outstanding wage award.

It said the two months’ arrears were paid within the agreed timeline, before August 15.

The workers, however, said the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance remained outstanding.

According to the council, the allowance is tied to the N70,000 national minimum wage and was provided for in a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, then headed by Eyo Nta.

The circular stipulated that the allowance should take effect from May 1, 2026.

The council therefore appealed to the finance minister to facilitate implementation of the circular without further administrative delays.

“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,” the council said.

It also maintained that funding should not be allowed to become an obstacle to implementing the allowance.

“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 said.

Promotion arrears

The council also pressed for the payment of promotion arrears owed to public servants in batches seven and nine.

It described the payments as still “hanging in the process of payment” and listed them alongside the 40 per cent allowance as two major issues requiring urgent government intervention.

The union body called for implementation of the allowance in accordance with the NSIWC circular and payment of the outstanding promotion arrears.

While the council did not issue an ultimatum, it warned that continued delays could worsen tensions among workers.

It said implementing the outstanding entitlement without waiting for another ultimatum would help prevent further agitation within the public service.

The council linked its appeal to the confidence built during its August meeting with Oyedele, saying the minister’s response to the wage award issue had demonstrated that agreements reached with organised labour could be acted upon.

However, it warned that dissatisfaction over the remaining issues was becoming increasingly pronounced.

“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,” the council said.

It ended the letter with a warning to the government: “A stitch in time saves nine.”

The latest demand comes after the Federal Government cleared two months of outstanding wage award payments, leaving the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and promotion arrears among the key unresolved financial issues raised by public servants.