Organised Labour has threatened a showdown with the Federal Government over the failure to implement an approved occupational hazard allowance for agricultural professionals in the public service, nearly two years after the approval was granted.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) expressed its dissatisfaction in a fresh letter to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation over the delay in issuing the circular required to commence payment of the allowance.
The council said approval for the payment was granted at the 46th meeting of the National Council on Establishment held in Ede, Osun State, from November 4 to 8, 2024.
According to the workers’ body, the decision provided for the “extension of payment of occupational Hazard allowance to some agricultural professionals in the Public Service.”
In the letter signed by the National Secretary of JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga, the council said it had written to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on June 4, 2026, demanding implementation of the decision.
It said another letter was sent on July 21, 2026, but no appropriate response or action had followed.
The council said: “The National leadership of JNPSNC is not happy with the manner this matter is being handled by the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and it is very unfortunate.”
It recalled that the memorandum on the hazard allowance had been presented at separate and joint meetings of the JNPSNC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before being forwarded to the National Council on Establishment.
The union said the approval was contained in the decisions and communique issued following the 46th meeting and signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Secretary of Council.
It stressed that the approval had remained outstanding since November 2024 and called for immediate action.
“The national leadership is demanding for prompt action,” the letter stated.
The JNPSNC urged the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to issue the necessary circular to enable the implementation and payment of the allowance to affected agricultural officers across the public service.
The council said implementation would motivate the workers and encourage increased productivity, efficiency and commitment.
However, it warned that continued failure to implement the allowance could lead to an industrial dispute.
The union called for the issuance of the circular “so that it will not trigger avoidable industrial dispute that may transcends to picketing the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.”
The development has raised fresh concerns about the implementation of decisions reached by the National Council on Establishment, particularly those affecting the welfare and remuneration of public servants.
The union is demanding that the Federal Government move beyond approval and commence payment of the hazard allowance to the affected agricultural professionals.
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