FG workers call for 40% pay to be implemented before March 31 deadline – THIS UPDATE

By Victor Osula, Abuja

Federal civil servants have stepped up calls for the federal government to implement the 40% peculiar allowance tied to the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, setting a March 31 deadline in a move aimed at accelerating the full implementation of ongoing wage reforms and improving workers’ welfare.

The request was conveyed by the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council (JNPSNC) in a formal letter addressed to the National Salaries, Incomes and Remunerations Commission (NSIWC).

Signed by the council’s national chairman, Benjamin Uyantomni, and national secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, the letter highlights the need for urgent administrative action to enable payments.

The union expressed concern over delays in issuing the circular and wage models needed to operationalize the benefit, noting that the delay has slowed the translation of approved wage improvements into tangible benefits for workers.

“The national management of the JNPSNC is constrained to draw the attention of the management of the NSIWC to the undue delay in issuing the appropriate salary circulars and forms necessary to facilitate the payment of the 40% peculiar allowance,” the letter reads.

According to the Council, a detailed proposal was submitted to the commission on 1 September 2025, while the head of the Civil Service of the Federation had already conveyed approval for the allowance. Despite these steps, implementation has yet to begin, spurring renewed commitment from union leaders.

At a meeting held on March 9, 2026, involving leaders of affiliated unions, the council decided to push for immediate progress, expressing optimism that the matter can be resolved promptly through continued dialogue and cooperation with the relevant authorities.

“Accordingly, we ask for a positive response by Tuesday 31 March 2026. Failure to comply will leave the Council with no choice but to take necessary action. No retreat, no surrender,” the letter adds.

The push for implementation follows the federal government’s approval of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage after extensive negotiations with unions, a policy widely seen as an important step towards protecting workers from inflation, eliminating fuel subsidies and rising costs of living.

The 40% peculiar allowance is designed to address pay disparities and compensate for specific working conditions within the federal civil service, and its introduction is expected to significantly improve the impact of the new pay structure.