The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent measures to ease the economic hardship affecting workers and their families.
In a letter to the President, the council demanded that the Federal Government reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award and review salaries and allowances across the public service.
The workers also called for the immediate constitution of a committee to negotiate a new National Minimum Wage ahead of January 2027.
The council said the rise in petrol prices, reportedly reaching about N1,430 per litre in some locations, had worsened the cost-of-living crisis and reduced workers’ purchasing power.
It urged the government to establish an intervention fund for the petroleum sector to help stabilise fuel prices, while arguing that food palliatives alone were not a sustainable solution to the economic challenges.
The JNPSNC gave the Federal Government until September 30, 2026, to respond to its demands, warning that continued hardship was creating growing tension among workers.
On wages, the council demanded a wage award for Federal, State and Local Government workers, alongside an upward review of salaries and allowances.
It also proposed that the minimum salary for a Grade Level 01, Step 1 worker under the proposed 2027 salary structure should be N500,000 monthly.
The council further called for harmonised wages across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, periodic salary adjustments in line with inflation, subsidised transportation and affordable housing for public servants.
The JNPSNC said rising costs of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education had significantly affected workers’ real incomes and, consequently, their morale and productivity.
It urged the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to begin discussions with the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other relevant stakeholders on the proposed wage award and salary review.
