Federal Workers Call on Finance Ministry to Release Delayed Allowances and Promotion Arrears

Union representatives encourage quick dialogue and timely payments to ensure fair compensation and workplace peace across public agencies.

Civil service representatives across Nigeria have reached out to the Federal Ministry of Finance, requesting the swift release of delayed workplace benefits and overdue promotion pay.

Writing on behalf of public servants, Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga reminded government officials that honoring pay agreements on time preserves mutual trust and maintains stable public offices.

Earlier this year, authorities successfully released two months of wage awards following collaborative discussions in August. Nevertheless, two vital financial issues remain unresolved. First, workers are waiting for the full rollout of an approved 40 percent allowance that reflects the national ₦70,000 minimum wage standard.

Second, many employees who earned career promotions in Batches 7 and 9 have yet to receive their back pay due to administrative payment delays.

Because workplace morale directly affects public services that support all communities, union leaders urged the government to remove bureaucratic roadblocks quickly. They explained that fair, timely payments help staff members manage living costs and support their families.

By resolving these outstanding payments without delay, officials and employees can continue working together constructively to deliver reliable public services for everyone.

Federal Workers Call on Finance Ministry to Release Delayed Allowances and Promotion Arrears

ECOWAS Biometric Card Expands as Seven Countries Begin Rollout

Cross-border travel within West Africa could become quicker and more secure with the growing rollout of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC).

The card allows immigration officials to electronically verify a traveller’s identity through a biometric chip, reducing some of the delays associated with checking paper documents.

According to ECOWAS and migration officials, the system will also improve cooperation between immigration authorities across member states.

Nigeria joined six other ECOWAS countries already deploying the card: Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia and Sierra Leone.

Nigeria began its rollout through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in November 2025.

90-Day Rule Still Applies

Despite the new travel document, the ENBIC does not automatically give holders the right to live indefinitely in another ECOWAS country.

Citizens of member states can enter another country without a visa and stay for up to 90 days under the ECOWAS free-movement protocol.

Travellers who want to stay beyond that period must meet the host country’s residence requirements.

NIS official Bennett Chiagoro said the card also contains security features that can expose attempts to alter its data.

Application Process

Nigerians can apply through the NIS online portal. The process includes verification, biometric enrolment, validation, production and issuance.

The portal also provides services for tracking applications, checking payment information, correcting certain application details and reporting misplaced cards.

Meanwhile, officials urged travellers to rely on accurate information about the card as implementation continues, particularly regarding eligibility, requirements and fees.

ECOWAS Biometric Card Expands as Seven Countries Begin Rollout

Ninth Body Discovered in South Africa: Nigeria Issues Urgent Safety Alert to Nationals

Police cordon off Kempton Park and post a $56,000 combined bounty as the Nigerian Consulate warns citizens to exercise heightened vigilance.

South African police recovered the body of a ninth woman on Thursday along a roadside in Dawn Park, intensifying public alarm and prompting the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg to issue an emergency safety advisory to its citizens.

In response to the discoveries, law enforcement teams placed Kempton Park in the Ekurhuleni municipality under lockdown and established roadblocks to inspect vehicles and restrict suspect movement.

Deputy Police Chief Tebello Mosikili declared during a press conference that authorities will deploy specialized investigative units to track down those responsible.

To accelerate breakthroughs, police offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for credible tips, while South Africa’s Democratic Alliance provided an additional $31,000, establishing a combined bounty of $56,000.

Detectives are now evaluating forensic evidence to determine whether one perpetrator committed the murders or whether independent offenders copied earlier attacks.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Consulate-General urged Nigerian residents, especially women and young people who commute, exercise, or study around Ekurhuleni, to take deliberate personal precautions.

The mission advised community members to travel in groups, stay clear of isolated trails, and share real-time travel details with trusted family members.

Furthermore, diplomatic officials emphasized that safety precautions must not shift the burden of crime prevention onto women, calling on South African authorities to ensure thorough investigations and justice for every victim.

Ninth Body Discovered in South Africa: Nigeria Issues Urgent Safety Alert to Nationals