The Federal Government has officially approved the long awaited 40 percent peculiar allowance for federal civil servants after sustained pressure from organised labour and threats of nationwide industrial action.
The approval was finalised during a crucial meeting chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson Jack, at the Conference Hall of her office in Abuja. The meeting brought together representatives of the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission and leaders of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council Trade Union side.
During the meeting, the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission released the official circular for the implementation of the allowance. The decision ends nearly two years of agitation by workers who had demanded an adjustment tied to the new N70,000 minimum wage structure introduced in 2024.
Esther Walson Jack stressed the need for stronger communication and mutual trust between labour unions and government agencies to avoid unnecessary industrial disputes. She explained that while unions have the right to make demands, dialogue remains essential for maintaining peace and ility in the public service.
Leaders of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council and the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission praised the intervention of the Head of Service, describing it as timely and effective in resolving the lingering disagreement.
National Secretary of the council, Olowoyo Gbenga, described the approval as a major victory for Nigerian workers facing harsh economic conditions. According to him, implementation of the allowance will begin from May 1 2026 after workers waited since July 2024 for the adjustment.
He also called on state governments to adopt the circular so workers at state and local government levels can benefit from the new allowance package.
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