Civil servants have given the Federal Government until September 30 to respond to a package of demands aimed at easing the economic pressure on public workers, including a proposed N500,000 minimum salary for the lowest grade under a new 2027 wage structure.
According to Vanguard, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, made the demands in a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeking an immediate Wage Award for workers across the federal, state and local government levels, alongside an upward review of salaries and allowances.
The council also wants the government to immediately constitute a committee to negotiate a new National Minimum Wage, with the process completed in time for implementation from January 2027. It proposed that an officer on Grade Level 01, Step 1, should earn at least N500,000 monthly under the proposed salary template.
Beyond basic pay, the workers called for salary and allowance adjustments tied to inflation, harmonised wages across government agencies, subsidised transportation and affordable housing. They argued that rising food, transport, healthcare, housing and education costs had significantly reduced the purchasing power of public servants.
On fuel, the JNPSNC asked the Federal Government to bring petrol down to N500 per litre, arguing that the sharp increase in pump prices has pushed up the cost of goods and services and intensified the pressure on workers. The council proposed an intervention mechanism for the oil sector to help achieve the reduction.
The workers also rejected reliance on food palliatives as a long-term response to the cost-of-living crisis and endorsed proposals attributed to Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero, including measures to strengthen domestic refining and improve petroleum storage capacity.
The council said improved remuneration would help restore workers’ purchasing power and support productivity, service delivery and industrial peace. It urged the President to direct the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to begin discussions with labour unions and other stakeholders on the proposed wage interventions.
The JNPSNC said it expected action on its requests by September 30, warning that the prevailing economic conditions were creating tension among workers. It also expressed hope that the concerns would receive attention in the President’s forthcoming Independence Day broadcast.
