Civil servants in Kaduna State have threatened to embark on industrial action over delays in approving and implementing salary adjustments for workers on Grade Level 07 and above.
The threat was announced by the National Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) following its State Administrative Council meeting. The council stated that the delay has caused significant hardship for workers, and could disrupt government activities if not addressed before April salaries are paid.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting in Kaduna, the council said the prolonged delay, despite several engagements with the state government, has placed senior civil servants at a disadvantage. It added that failure by the government to act urgently could lead to a boycott of the 2026 May Day celebration, and possible strike action.
The JNC expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as “deliberate delay and unnecessary dilly-dallying” by the state government in implementing the salary adjustments. It noted that a State Minimum Wage and Consequential Adjustments Committee, established in October 2024, completed its work and submitted its report in November 2024, but implementation has yet to begin.
The council further explained that the government later introduced a staff verification exercise in January 2025 to eliminate ghost workers. According to the JNC, the exercise, initially scheduled to last three months, was extended until December 2025 without conclusion, or any corresponding salary adjustments.
The union stated that it had written several letters to the government, including correspondence dated October 2, 2025, and January 14, 2026, urging approval and implementation of the new salary structure.
“The governor also directed the setting up of a negotiating review committee made up of labour leaders and government officials. The committee has completed its assignment and submitted its report, but there has been no positive response,” the communiqué stated.
The JNC called on the government to urgently approve and implement the recommendations of the review committee before April salary payments. It warned that failure to do so would lead to a boycott of the 2026 May Day celebrations by workers and their affiliates.
“In the event of non-implementation by the end of April 2026, the council will organise a protest march and thereafter issue a notice of full strike action across the State Civil Service,” the council said.
The union also noted that about 35 states in Nigeria have already implemented consequential salary adjustments following approval of the new minimum wage in 2024, leaving Kaduna workers behind.
It added that the ₦72,000 minimum wage approved by the state government has been eroded by rising inflation, worsening the economic situation of workers. The council further criticised the government for implementing the wage increase only for workers on Grade Levels 01 to 06, while senior civil servants were excluded from similar adjustments.
“Core civil servants in Kaduna State are facing severe economic hardship due to the lack of reasonable salary adjustments,” the council stated.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the JNC Chairman, Mr. Danjuma Yusuf, and the Secretary, Mr. Musa Muhammed.
