FG Approves 40% Peculiar Allowance for Civil Servants, Strike Called Off

The federal government has approved a 40 percent peculiar allowance for federal civil servants, heading off a nationwide strike that had been scheduled to begin on May 21, 2026.

The decision came out of a meeting on Tuesday, May 13, chaired by Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, at her office in Abuja. The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) released the implementation circular during the session, ending what workers described as nearly two years of frustration over wages linked to the N70,000 national minimum wage.

Two Years of Waiting, Now Over

Gbenga Olowoyo, national secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), confirmed the breakthrough and hailed it as a win for the workforce.

“This is a major victory for Nigerian workers and a positive step toward improving welfare amid current economic hardships,” Olowoyo said. “Our members have been waiting since July 2024 for this adjustment to reflect the new minimum wage template.”

The implementation will be backdated to May 1, 2026. Olowoyo confirmed the council had initially scheduled a strike over resistance from the NSIWC, but that the Head of Service’s intervention resolved the impasse. Ekpo Nta, executive chairman of the NSIWC, and Benjamin Anthony, national chairman of the JNPSNC, both praised Walson-Jack for brokering the deal.

A Warning Against Future Disputes

At the meeting, Walson-Jack used the moment to call for better communication between government and labour going forward.

“It is vital to strengthen trust between government management teams and labour unions to avoid unnecessary industrial disputes,” she said. “While unions have the constitutional right to make demands, we must ensure there is always room for constructive dialogue to sustain industrial harmony.”

The peculiar allowance is separate from basic salary and forms part of the broader wage adjustment package being rolled out under the N70,000 minimum wage framework. Civil servants across federal ministries, departments and agencies are expected to benefit from the approval.

Context: Why This Matters

Nigeria’s public sector workers have faced significant wage erosion in real terms as inflation pushed the cost of food, fuel and housing sharply higher over the past two years. A 40 percent allowance will not fully close that gap — but for many workers, it marks the first meaningful movement on their pay in a long while.

BusinessDay reported that the NSIWC circular released during the meeting formally puts the allowance into effect, making a return to strike talk unlikely for now.

Sources: BusinessDay, Legit.ng