The Confederation of Federal Workers of Nigeria (COFWON) has urged the Federal Government to clear all outstanding financial obligations owed to federal workers across the various sectors of the public service.

The President and National Convener of COFWON, Pharm. Comrade Itoro Obong, made the call while reacting to reports that some federal workers, particularly personnel of the paramilitary services, including the Nigeria Correctional Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, are yet to receive their July 2026 salaries.

According to him, outstanding obligations to federal workers range from delayed salaries, salary arrears and allowances, promotion arrears, and the implementation of previously agreed salary-related agreements with various unions and salary structures.

The COFWON President described the situation as worrisome, particularly for workers who depend entirely on their monthly salaries to meet their financial obligations.

One of the executives of the organisation and COFWON Director of Mobilisation, Mr. Emmanuel Gibson, further expressed concern over reports of delayed July salaries among some officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service.

«“I was informed that officers of the Correctional Service have yet to receive their July salaries.

“Particular banks are affected mostly — Union Bank, GTBank, FCMB, Sterling and some other banks.

“Imagine not getting salary from July till August 6th.”»

COFWON therefore called on the relevant government agencies responsible for payroll administration to urgently investigate the reported delays and ensure that affected workers receive their salaries without further delay.

Meanwhile, the COFWON President has commended the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Kabiru Ado Minjibir, who led a delegation of labour leaders to engage with the Honourable Minister of Finance on behalf of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) over the prolonged delay in the payment of the outstanding balance of the wage award owed to federal workers since 2024.

He acknowledged the commencement of payment of one month of the outstanding wage award from Friday, describing the development as a positive step, while urging the Federal Government to also expedite the payment of the remaining one month without further delay.

According to Pharm. Comrade Itoro Obong, the payment of the outstanding wage award should not be viewed as an isolated intervention but as part of a broader responsibility of government to ensure that all legitimate financial obligations to federal workers are cleared.

The COFWON leader also appealed to the Federal Government to extend the same urgency being applied to issues affecting particular groups of workers to other categories of federal workers who have outstanding legitimate demands.

He specifically referenced the recent attention given to the demands of resident doctors, noting that while some of their demands are specific to their profession, certain issues, including the delayed implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, have wider implications for other health workers.

The CONHESS adjustment, he noted, remains a major outstanding issue that contributed to the prolonged 84-day strike by health workers.

He also called attention to federal workers on the CONPSS and CONRAISS salary structures, who, according to him, are still awaiting the implementation of their revised peculiar allowance, which was expected to take effect from May 2026.

“Government must be sincere and fair to all levels of federal workers, not just one set of workers. Every worker whose entitlement is legitimately due should receive the attention of government,” he said.

The COFWON President further urged the government to give adequate attention to the welfare of federal pensioners, stressing that workers who have served the nation deserve dignity and timely pay.