Civil servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, have given President Bola Tinubu until September 30 to address worsening economic hardship, demanding cheaper petrol, an immediate wage award and a new minimum-wage negotiation.
In a letter to the President at the State House, Abuja, the workers called for petrol to be stabilised at ₦500 per litre, an upward review of salaries and allowances across the public service, and the immediate constitution of a committee to negotiate a new National Minimum Wage ahead of January 2027.
The council said the recent rise in petrol prices to about ₦1,430 per litre or more in some locations had further eroded workers’ purchasing power and intensified the cost-of-living crisis.
It warned that the prevailing hardship was creating tension among workers and Nigerians, urging the government to act on its demands by Wednesday, September 30.
The JNPSNC said the removal of fuel subsidy three years ago had triggered sharp increases in petrol prices, with higher transportation and commodity costs spreading across the economy.
It rejected food palliatives as an inadequate long-term response, arguing that cheaper fuel would have a wider impact on household and business costs.
“Consequent upon the above, it is preferable that the Federal Government should provide an intervention that will trickle down to all Nigerians by making fuel available at an affordable amount as low as N500,” the council said.
The workers also called for an intervention fund for the oil sector to help stabilise petrol prices, saying the government could use another name for the measure if it did not want to describe it as a fuel subsidy.
The council endorsed proposals attributed to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, including the sale of sufficient crude oil in naira to local refineries and expansion of national petroleum storage capacity.
According to the position cited by the council, such measures would strengthen domestic refining, create jobs and provide a buffer against fluctuations in global oil prices.
The council also backed the NLC’s call for government intervention in the fuel market, saying such support could be justified during periods of economic emergency.
Wage demands
On workers’ remuneration, the JNPSNC demanded an immediate Wage Award covering federal, state and local government employees, alongside an upward review of salaries and allowances.
It said the Wage Award should serve as an interim measure ahead of a new National Minimum Wage expected to take effect from January 2027.
The council urged the government to immediately constitute a committee involving relevant stakeholders to begin negotiations, saying an early start would help prevent delays in implementation.
It proposed a minimum salary of ₦500,000 per month for an officer on Grade Level 01, Step 1, under the proposed 2027 salary structure.
The workers also called for harmonised wages across ministries, departments and agencies, with similar reviews encouraged at the state and local government levels.
They further demanded periodic salary and allowance adjustments linked to inflation, as well as welfare measures such as subsidised transportation and affordable housing.
The JNPSNC said rising inflation, fuel and transportation costs, as well as higher expenses for food, housing, healthcare and education, had significantly reduced the real value of workers’ salaries.
“Many workers are now struggling to meet basic financial obligations, which has inevitably affected the morale, motivation, and overall productivity within the Public Service,” it said.
The council urged Tinubu to direct the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to begin discussions with the NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), JNPSNC and other stakeholders on the proposed Wage Award and salary review.
It said public servants remained central to governance, policy implementation and the delivery of essential services, making improved remuneration necessary for productivity and industrial peace.
The council expressed hope that the President’s Independence Day broadcast would address the concerns raised by workers.
It said the measures should be implemented by September 30 “to douse the palpable tension” among workers and the wider population.
