Civil servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, have written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking urgent measures to address the worsening cost-of-living pressures facing workers and their families.
In a formal letter to the President, the workers requested that the Federal Government take steps to stabilise the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at ₦500 per litre, while also introducing an immediate wage award and reviewing salaries and allowances across the public service.
Workers seek urgent intervention
The council said the rising price of petrol has placed additional pressure on workers, particularly through increased transportation costs and the corresponding rise in the prices of food and other essential goods and services.
The workers noted that petrol prices had risen to about ₦1,430 per litre or higher in some locations, arguing that the situation had significantly reduced the purchasing power of public servants.
They therefore urged the Federal Government to consider an intervention that would bring petrol prices down to ₦500 per litre.
According to the council, reducing the cost of petrol could have wider economic effects because transportation and energy costs influence the prices of goods and services across the country.
Demand for wage award
Beyond the petrol-price request, the JNPSNC called for an immediate wage award for public servants at the federal, state and local government levels.
The council also demanded an upward review of salaries and allowances to reflect current economic conditions.
The proposed wage award is being presented as an immediate intervention while negotiations for a new national minimum wage are being prepared.
Workers propose ₦500,000 minimum salary
The council also called for the immediate establishment of a committee to commence negotiations for a new National Minimum Wage ahead of January 2027.
As part of its proposal for a new salary structure, the JNPSNC said the minimum salary for an officer on Grade Level 01, Step 1 should be ₦500,000 per month.
It further called for harmonised remuneration across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, with corresponding reviews encouraged at the state and local government levels.
Call for salaries to reflect inflation
The workers also proposed periodic adjustments to salaries and allowances in line with inflation and prevailing economic realities.
Other welfare measures requested include subsidised transportation and affordable housing for civil servants.
The council argued that improved remuneration would help restore workers’ purchasing power and could contribute to improved morale, productivity and public-service delivery.
Workers reject reliance on food palliatives
The JNPSNC also criticised the continued reliance on food items and other palliatives as a response to economic hardship.
The council argued that temporary distribution of food items does not address the structural causes of the rising cost of living and instead called for broader economic interventions that would benefit workers and the wider population.
Deadline given to government
The workers have asked the Federal Government to respond to their demands on or before Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
They warned that continued economic pressure could heighten tension among workers and the wider population if urgent measures are not taken.
The council also urged the government to engage relevant labour and salary-management institutions, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, in discussions on the proposed wage measures.
Broader economic concerns
The demands come amid renewed pressure over petrol prices and the cost of living in Nigeria. Recent increases in fuel prices have raised concerns about their effect on transportation, food prices, household expenses and business operating costs.
The workers are therefore asking the Federal Government to consider both sides of the problem: reducing the cost of essential energy while increasing workers’ earnings to reflect prevailing economic conditions.
The JNPSNC said it expects the government to urgently consider the proposals and take measures capable of easing the financial burden on workers and their dependants.