Federal Government Approves 40% Peculiar Allowance for Civil Servants After Showdown of Threat

The Federal Government has approved a 40% peculiar allowance for federal civil servants, following intense pressure and threats of industrial action by the organised labour. The approval was announced after a marathon meeting presided over by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, on Tuesday.

The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) formally released the circular for the implementation of the allowance, ending nearly two years of agitation by workers over the delayed adjustment linked to the new N70,000 minimum wage structure.

Mrs Walson-Jack stressed the importance of strengthening communication and trust between government management teams and labour unions to avoid unnecessary industrial disputes. She noted that while labour unions have the constitutional right to make demands, government agencies must create room for dialogue and constructive engagement to sustain industrial harmony.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) and the NSIWC to present their positions, leading to an agreement acceptable to all parties.

The implementation of the allowance will take effect from May 1, 2026, after workers had waited since July 2024 for the adjustment. The JNPSNC has urged state governments to adopt the circular to enable workers at the state and local government levels to benefit from the relief package.

Olowoyo Gbenga, National Secretary of the JNPSNC, described the outcome as a major victory for Nigerian workers and a positive step toward improving workers’ welfare amid the current economic hardship.

The JNPSNC had earlier fixed May 21 for a nationwide industrial showdown over the matter, but the intervention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation saved the situation and restored confidence among workers.