Labour demands N154,000 minimum wage for workers

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) of organised labour has called for a new minimum wage of N154,000 and a 120 per cent increase in salaries and allowances for public sector workers across Nigeria.

In a letter dated March 12, 2026, addressed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the council said the demand was necessary to address the worsening economic hardship faced by workers. The correspondence, signed by National Chairman Benjamin Anthony and National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga, followed a council meeting held on March 9 in Abuja.

The union described the current condition of many public servants as a “life of servitude,” citing the rising cost of living and declining purchasing power of wages. It noted that inflation, higher fuel prices, increased transportation costs, and surging expenses for food, housing, healthcare, and education have significantly eroded workers’ earnings.

According to the council, previous salary adjustments have failed to keep pace with economic realities, leaving many workers struggling to meet basic needs. This, it said, has negatively affected morale, motivation, and productivity within the public service.

To address the situation, the JNPSNC urged the immediate review of salary structures and allowances. It proposed that the minimum salary for a Grade Level 01 Step 1 officer be raised to N154,000 monthly for federal public servants.

The council also called for the harmonisation of wages across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the adoption of similar measures at the state level. It recommended the introduction of automatic cost-of-living adjustments tied to inflation to prevent delays in future wage reviews.

In addition, the union advocated non-monetary welfare measures, including subsidised transportation and affordable housing for civil servants.

The council stressed that improving workers’ welfare is both an economic and social necessity, warning that failure to act promptly could lead to unrest.

While pushing for reforms, the JNPSNC commended President Bola Tinubu for approving full gratuity payments for retiring federal public servants, describing the move as a significant step toward improving post-service welfare.

It reaffirmed its readiness to engage constructively with the government to achieve a fair and sustainable outcome for all parties.