By Clement John
Fresh industrial unrest may be looming in the Federal Public Service as the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has rejected the implementation formula for the newly approved 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal workers, accusing the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission of acting without transparency.
The council warned that workers could embark on a nationwide strike from May 21 if the Federal Government fails to address concerns surrounding the allowance structure.
In a letter dated May 6, 2026, signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the Trade Union Side of the council, Benjamin Uyanto and Olowoyo Gbenga, the union alleged that the salaries commission secretly altered the computation process for the allowance.
The letter, titled “Re-Approval for Peculiar Allowance, Duty Tour Allowances and Other Welfare for Public Servants in Nigeria Matters Arising,” accused the commission of excluding labour representatives and other stakeholders from discussions leading to the release of the allowance table and implementation circular.
According to the union, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance should be calculated based on the newly approved N70,000 national minimum wage in line with the National Minimum Wage Act 2024.
However, the council described the computation method released by the commission as unclear and suspicious.
The union argued that the refusal of the Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to involve workers’ representatives violated collective bargaining principles and undermined trust within the public service.
It further accused the commission of deliberately delaying implementation of the allowance for over two years, allegedly to save government funds at the expense of workers facing worsening economic conditions.
The council demanded the immediate release of a clear and unambiguous circular reflecting the proper calculation of the 40 per cent allowance based on the N70,000 minimum wage.
It also called for the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders in future negotiations to avoid further tension in the public service.
Despite the dispute, the union commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, for approving welfare packages for public servants announced on April 24, 2026.
The council, however, warned that failure to urgently resolve the matter could trigger a major industrial crisis across federal ministries, departments and agencies.
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