The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has issued a firm deadline to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, regarding unsettled wage arrears and allowance payments. The labor body has set August 11, 2026, as the final date for a meeting to address these grievances, warning that persistent inaction could lead to a nationwide strike.
This development comes shortly after Minister Oyedele publicly claimed that revenue generated from the cessation of fuel subsidies had been allocated toward staff salaries and other financial obligations. Contradicting this, the JNPSNC leadership, represented by Benjamin Uyanto and Olowoyo Gbenga, stated that the government has neglected to pay two months of wage awards and has failed to implement a 40 percent peculiar allowance intended for public servants.
In their formal correspondence, the union leadership noted that two previous letters sent in May and July 2026 were ignored by the Minister’s office. The council expressed frustration, characterizing the government’s lack of response as dismissive. They argued that the ongoing silence has contributed to growing anger among the workforce.
The union has explicitly requested a meeting to resolve the implementation of the 40 percent allowance, which was mandated to begin on May 1, 2026, as well as the disbursement of wage awards for March and April 2026. The JNPSNC emphasized that they have already informed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of the potential for industrial action should these issues remain unaddressed by the August 11 deadline.
