Nigeria's Organised Labour, through the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), has formally demanded an upward review of salaries and allowances, proposing a new minimum wage of N154,000 per month for federal public servants on Grade Level 01 Step 1.
This represents a 120% increase in salaries and allowances, aimed at addressing the "severe economic hardship" and "life of servitude" faced by workers due to skyrocketing inflation, fuel prices, transportation costs, and escalating expenses for food, housing, healthcare, and education.
The demand was contained in a letter dated March 12, 2026, addressed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. It followed a meeting held on March 9, 2026, at the AUPCTRE National Secretariat in Abuja.
In the letter signed by National Chairman Benjamin Anthony and National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga, the council stated: “Despite their immense contributions, public service workers continue to face severe economic hardship due to the rising cost of living and the declining purchasing power of their earnings.”
The letter further highlighted: “Over the years, Nigeria has experienced unprecedented economic pressures characterised by high inflation, increased fuel prices, rising transportation costs, and escalating prices of food items, housing, healthcare, and education.
"The above realities have significantly eroded the real value of workers’ salaries and have made it increasingly difficult for many public servants to maintain a decent standard of living.”
Key demands include:
Development of new salary templates with the proposed N154,000 minimum for entry-level federal workers.
Harmonisation of wages across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with encouragement for sub-national levels to follow suit for equity.
Introduction of automatic, periodic cost-of-living adjustments aligned with inflation rates.
Prioritisation of welfare enhancements, including non-monetary incentives such as subsidised transportation and affordable housing.
The council described the salary review as “not merely an economic imperative but a social necessity to ensure the sustenance of the workforce, maintain industrial harmony, and improve the efficiency of public service delivery.”
They urged the immediate initiation of negotiations, directing the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission to engage with the council promptly.
While commending President Bola Tinubu for approving 100% gratuity payment to retiring federal public servants a move described as preventing post-service impoverishment the council warned that failure to act could lead to “spontaneous social unrest.”
The group affirmed commitment to “constructive dialogue, resourceful engagement and collaboration with the government toward achieving a fair, sustainable, and mutually beneficial outcome for all stakeholders.”
No immediate response from the federal government or the Head of the Civil Service has been reported on the specific demand, as negotiations are yet to commence formally.
This push comes against the backdrop of persistent economic challenges in Nigeria, where previous wage adjustments have failed to keep pace with living costs, further straining public servants' morale and productivity.
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