The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) has clarified reports regarding the approval of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal civil servants.

In a statement, the office said it neither approved nor conveyed the approval of the allowance to the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), or any labour union.

It stated that the statutory responsibility for issuing and communicating such circulars was with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). The office said the circular being circulated in the media reports was issued by the NSIWC on April 23.

It said the meeting convened by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on Tuesday was strictly interventionist and conciliatory. The statement said: “The meeting was to promote mutual understanding, and avert any breakdown in labour relations within the Federal Civil Service.”