Civil servants have renewed their appeal to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, over the delayed implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and outstanding promotion arrears, warning that “a stitch in time saves nine.”
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side, called on the minister to expedite the implementation of the allowance and settle the promotion arrears owed to batches seven and nine, noting that the prolonged delay was creating growing discontent among public servants.
In a letter signed by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, the council acknowledged the Federal Government’s recent settlement of two months of outstanding wage awards but noted that the 40 per cent allowance was yet to be implemented.
The council recalled its earlier correspondence to the minister dated July 9, 2026, concerning the outstanding issues, after which Oyedele met with its leadership on August 5.
It commended the minister for acting on its previous request, stating, “The National leadership of JNPSNC wishes to acknowledge and commend your office for walking the talk with appreciable intervention.”
According to the council, the minister also implemented some of the resolutions reached at the meeting, particularly the payment of the outstanding wage award.
The council said, “It is on the strength of the above that the national leadership wishes to appreciate your office for acting resourcefully on the resolutions arrived at the meeting the national leadership had with your revered person on Wednesday, 5th August, 2026.”
It noted that the two months of outstanding wage awards were paid within the agreed deadline, “i.e. before 15th August, 2026.”
However, the workers said the implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, which was another key issue discussed during the meeting, remained outstanding.
“However, it will be recalled that another major issue that was presented before your esteemed person was the matter affecting the implementation of 40 per cent peculiar allowance that must reflect the N70,000 national minimum wage,” the letter stated.
The council explained that the allowance was supported by a circular issued and signed by the former Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Eyo Nta, with implementation scheduled to commence from May 1, 2026.
It consequently appealed to Oyedele to intervene without further delay, stating, “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 JNPSNC also dismissed financial limitations as a reason for delaying the implementation.
“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 stated.
On the issue of promotion arrears, the council identified payments owed to batches seven and nine as one of its two major outstanding requests, noting that the payments were “currently hanging in the process of payment.”
The council specifically requested “the implementation of 40% peculiar allowance predicated on the circular issued by the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission… with effect from 1st May, 2026.”
It also called for “payment of promotion arrears of batches seven (7) and nine (9) that are currently hanging in the process of payment.”
The workers appealed to the minister to resolve the matters before they escalate into another dispute with the government.
The council described it as “very expedient and desirable” for the allowance to be implemented “without attracting any ultimatum.”
It said the appeal was informed by the level of confidence established during its August meeting with the minister.
“Arising from the above and taking a very cue from the trust and confidence built during the meeting the national leadership had with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy on Wednesday, 5th August, 2026, it is very expedient and desirable for the implementation of the extant circular,” it stated.
The council, however, expressed concern over increasing dissatisfaction among public servants.
The JNPSNC told the minister that “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 concluded its appeal with the warning, “A stitch in time saves nine.”
The latest letter follows the government’s payment of the outstanding wage award after sustained pressure from organised labour over unpaid entitlements.
The council’s intervention suggests that although the wage award matter has been addressed, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and promotion arrears remain outstanding and could continue to generate discontent among public servants.
