Public sector workers have given the Federal Government until September 30, 2026, to address worsening economic hardship, including rising petrol prices and declining purchasing power.
The demand was contained in a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side. The council warned that mounting pressure on workers and their dependants was creating growing tension across the country.
The workers called for petrol prices to be stabilised at N500 per litre. They also demanded a N500,000 minimum wage, a wage award and an immediate review of salaries and allowances across the public service. The council said rising fuel, transport, food, housing, healthcare and education costs had significantly reduced the real value of workers’ earnings.
It also called for the establishment of a committee to begin negotiations on a new National Minimum Wage ahead of January 2027. Under its proposed salary structure, a Grade Level 01, Step 1 worker would receive at least N500,000 monthly. The JNPSNC further proposed an intervention fund for the oil sector to help reduce petrol prices. It said the government could use another description for the measure if it did not want to refer to it as a fuel subsidy.
The council argued that cheaper petrol would have wider effects across the economy by reducing transportation and other costs. It also called for subsidised transportation and affordable housing for public servants.
Food Palliatives Not a Sustainable Response
The demands come shortly after the Nigeria Labour Congress called for emergency palliatives and wage awards as petrol prices reached about N1,430 per litre in major cities. The NLC also urged the government to sell crude oil to local refineries in naira.
The JNPSNC said food palliatives alone were not a sustainable response to the economic pressure facing workers. It instead called for measures that would restore purchasing power and improve workers’ welfare. The council said its proposals were intended to improve productivity, strengthen accountability and promote industrial peace within the public service.
The council urged President Tinubu to address the demands by September 30, saying this would help ease the tension among workers and their dependants.
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