Di federal government of Nigeria don formally approve 40 percent peculiar allowance for federal civil servants, wey narrowly prevent national industrial showdown. Di decision come after long meeting on Tuesday wey Didi Walson-Jack, head of di civil service of di federation, chair for her office for Abuja.
During di session, di National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) release di implementation circular, wey end nearly two years of tension about wage adjustments wey link to di N70,000 national minimum wage.
Walson-Jack emphasise di need to keep open lines of communication between government and organised labour to prevent future wahala. She talk say, “E dey vital to strengthen trust between government management teams and labour unions to avoid unnecessary industrial disputes. While unions get constitutional right to make demands, we must ensure there always be room for constructive dialogue to sustain industrial harmony.”
Di negotiations involve Ekpo Nta, executive chairman of NSIWC, and Benjamin Anthony, national chairman of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC). Both officials praise di head of service for her intervention, wey dem credit with resolving di long-standing impasse.
Gbenga Olowoyo, national secretary of JNPSNC, confirm di resolution and hail di decision as big victory for di workforce. He note say di implementation go backdate to May 1, 2026. “Dis na major victory for Nigerian workers and positive step toward improving welfare amid current economic hardships,” Olowoyo yarn. “Our members don dey wait since July 2024 for dis adjustment to reflect di new minimum wage template.”
Olowoyo admit say di council don previously schedule nationwide strike for May 21, because of initial resistance from NSIWC. But he confirm say di intervention from Office of di Head of Service don restore confidence. “With dis development, workers likely to sheathe dem swords and allow industrial peace to reign for di workplace,” he add.
Di JNPSNC don now urge state governments to adopt di federal circular, so dat state and local government employees go also receive financial relief.
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