Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side, has urged the Federal Government to implement the 40 per cent peculiar allowance for civil servants and pay outstanding promotion arrears owed to workers.
The council made the demand in a letter to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, warning that prolonged delays could heighten dissatisfaction among public servants.
The workers specifically demanded the payment of promotion arrears for batches seven and nine, which they said were still being processed.
The letter, signed by the council’s National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, acknowledged the Federal Government’s recent payment of two months’ outstanding wage award.
The council, however, said the payment did not resolve other outstanding issues raised during a meeting between its leadership and Oyedele on August 5, 2026.
The workers recalled that they had earlier written to the minister on July 9, drawing attention to the delayed implementation of the 40 per cent allowance and unpaid promotion arrears.
They commended Oyedele for responding to their concerns and implementing the agreement reached on the outstanding wage award.
The council said the two months’ wage award was paid within the agreed timeline, before August 15, 2026.
It, however, said the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance remained outstanding.
According to the workers, the allowance was contained in a circular issued by the then Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Eyo Nta, with implementation scheduled to commence from May 1, 2026.
The council appealed to the minister to remove what it described as administrative bottlenecks delaying implementation of the circular.
“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 stated.
The workers also argued that lack of funds should not be used as a reason for delaying the payment.
“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,” they said.
### Promotion arrears
Apart from the allowance, the council identified the payment of promotion arrears for batches seven and nine as another major outstanding issue.
It said the payments were still “hanging in the process of payment” and urged the government to expedite their release.
The council consequently listed the two demands as the immediate issues requiring government action: implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance based on the relevant circular and payment of promotion arrears for the affected batches.
While appealing to the government to resolve the issues without confrontation, the workers said prompt action would help preserve the confidence built during their August meeting with the minister.
They urged the government to implement the allowance without issuing an ultimatum, describing such action as necessary to prevent further tension within the public service.
The council, however, warned that dissatisfaction was already growing among workers over the unresolved entitlements.
“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,” it stated.
The council concluded its appeal with the warning, “A stitch in time saves nine.”
The latest demand follows the recent settlement of the outstanding wage award, which had been a major issue between organised labour and the Federal Government.
With the wage award now paid, the implementation of the 40 per cent allowance and settlement of the promotion arrears remain among the outstanding financial issues confronting the public service.