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LABOUR FUMES OVER NATIONAL WAGES COMMISSION COMPLICITY OVER PECULIAR ALLOWANCE APPROVAL
….as tension mounts among workers over hardship
The National leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has condemed the non challant attitude of the national Salaries income and Wages Commission in the handling of the approval given for the implementation of 40% peculiar to the Federal Public Service
In a letter addressed to the commission dated 6th May 2026, entitled Re – approval for peculiar allowance, Duty Tour Allowances and other welfare for Public Servants in Nigeria- Matters arising the National leadership of JNPSNC expressed reservation in the handling of the very sensitive and important matters affecting thousands of Nigerian workers
The letter inter alia stated that “Upon all the approvals, we want express our reservation on the components of the 40% peculiar allowance which supposed to be based on the (N70,000) seventy thousand minimum but presently it is shrouded with complexity due to the fact that the office of the Executive Chairman, National Salaries income and Wages Commission refused to put the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council)JNPSNC) Trade Union Side on appropriate notice on the ways and manners the office arrived at the peculiar allowance table components.
According to the letter, it was observed that, the approach of National salaries income and Wages Commission was against the principle of collective bargaining where all critical stakeholders supposed to be in concurrence with whatever will be released as functionable and implementable
table and circular, the National salaries income and Wages Commission has decided to keep Public document to its chest
Secondly, the approach of the Office of the National Salaries income and Wages Commission is tantamount to unilateral decision full of complexity and shrouded with suspicion.
The JNPSNC leadership further accused the National salaries income and Wages Commission of conspiratorial tendency against the collective interest of Nigerian workers for dragging this matter for over two in order to save money for at the detrimental of hapless Nigerian workers.
The National leadership of JNPSNC hereby demand for “unambiguous circular and table with appropriate input of all stakeholders conveying the 40% peculiar allowance premised and reflecting based on the (N70,000) seventy thousand minimum wage as contained in the National minimum wage Act 2024.”
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council letter under reference was jointly signed by the National Chairman Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto mni and National Secretary Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga, the letter is hereby reproduced below:
” The National leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC Trade Union Side wishes to acknowledge the various Welfare packages reeled out by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs Esther Walson Jack on Friday 24th April, 2026 during a press briefing held at Olusegun Obasanjo Hall office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. ”
“There is no doubt that the various welfare packages were worthwhile more so they were products of agitations by the National Public Service Negotiating Council marshalled and highlighted vide our various correspondences to the all the concerned government offices.”
“It is on the strength of the above that the National leadership wants to appreciate His Excellency the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for the various approval given to the effect of the various welfare packages. ‘
“Upon all the approvals, we want express our reservation on the components of the 40% peculiar allowance which supposed to be based on the (N70,000) seventy thousand minimum but presently it is shrouded with complexity due to the fact that the office of the Executive Chairman, National Salaries income and Wages Commission refused to put the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council)JNPSNC) Trade Union Side on appropriate notice on the ways and manners the office arrived at the peculiar allowance table components.”
“Firstly it is against the principle of collective bargaining where all critical stakeholders supposed to be in concurrence with whatever will be released as functionable and implementable
table and circular.”
“Secondly, the approach of the Office of the National Salaries income and Wages Commission is tantamount into unilateral decision full of complexity and shrouded with suspicion.”
“On the strength of the above observations and reservations the National leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council hereby demand for the following:”
‘1, unambiguous circular and table conveying the 40% peculiar allowance premised and reflecting based on the (N70,000) seventy thousand minimum wage as contained in minimum wage Act 2024.”
“2, it is very expedient to carry along all stakeholders in this process so as insulate any iota of suspicion and short changes ”
“3, it is regrettable that the Office of the Executive Chairman National Salaries income and Wages Commission has not found it necessary to communicate the National leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on the relevant circular purportedly issued in respect of these claimed welfare pronouncements*
“4 The National leadership of the JNPSNC hereby demand for appropriate actions to be taken to address these issues raised to diffuse unnecessary tension already gathering momentum among the Public Servants in the country”
To show the seriousness attached to this matter, the letter under reference has been copied to all relevant government agencies to call the management of National salaries income and Wages Commission to order and make them do the needful in order not to plunge the country into unimaginable industrial crisis.
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