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| Photo Credit: Joe Ajaero — NLC President |
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil servants represented by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) Trade Union Side have formally written to President Bola Tinubu demanding urgent relief measures. Their key requests include reducing the pump price of petrol to ₦500 per litre and establishing a new national minimum wage of ₦500,000, along with an immediate wage award for public-sector workers.
In the letter, signed by JNPSNC National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga, the unions highlighted the impact of recent petrol price increases, which have reached ₦1,430 per litre and higher in some areas. They argue that the removal of fuel subsidy three years ago triggered sharp rises in transport and essential goods costs, making life increasingly difficult for workers and their families. The council set a deadline of Wednesday, 30 September 2026, for the government to respond, warning of growing tension.
The JNPSNC, which brings together several public-service unions including the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and others, rejected short-term food palliatives as inadequate. They described such handouts as unsustainable and limited in reach, preferring a broader intervention that lowers fuel costs so the benefits can spread across the economy.
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On wages, the unions called for an immediate wage award covering federal, state and local government employees, followed by a full salary review. They proposed that the lowest grade (Level 01 Step 1) should receive at least ₦500,000 per month under a 2027 salary structure, and urged the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to begin talks with the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders. They also want harmonised pay across ministries, departments and agencies.
The NLC has publicly backed the demands. Acting General Secretary Benson Upah described the calls for a wage award and lower fuel prices as “very realistic and long overdue.” He noted that wages have stagnated while inflation continues to erode purchasing power, leaving many workers unable to afford transport or basic family needs. Upah stressed that higher fuel prices affect not only civil servants but the wider population, especially lower-income households.
The unions also referenced earlier comments by NLC President Joe Ajaero suggesting that government could sell crude oil in naira to local refineries, expand storage capacity, and provide a buffer against international price swings. They argued that as an oil-producing nation, Nigeria should protect citizens from external shocks and that temporary subsidies or intervention funds remain legitimate tools in times of hardship.
Whether the Federal Government will meet the 30 September deadline or open formal negotiations remains to be seen. The demands come against a backdrop of ongoing cost-of-living pressures and the scheduled review of the national minimum wage ahead of 2027. Any agreement would need to balance worker welfare with fiscal realities at federal and state levels.
“Based on public statements and reporting from Nigerian media outlets including Vanguard.”
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