…Say “Enough is enough”
The National Public Service Negotiating Council (NPSNC) has called for a ₦154,000 minimum wage and a 120% increase in salaries and allowances for Nigerian public workers, citing the “life of servitude” many currently endure.
The demand was made in a letter dated March 12, 2026, addressed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Titled: ‘Urgent Need for the Upward Review of Salaries and Allowances of Workers in the Nigerian Public Service and Commendation for the Approval of Gratuity Payment to Retiring Workers’, and was jointly signed by JNPSNC National Chairman, Benjamin Anthony and National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga.
The Council based its call on deliberations from a March 9 meeting at the AUPCTRE National Secretariat in Abuja, noting that rising inflation, fuel costs, and the escalating prices of food, housing, healthcare, and transport have eroded the real value of public servants’ earnings.
“The last major salary adjustments have not kept pace with economic realities. Many workers are struggling to meet basic financial obligations, affecting morale, motivation, and productivity”, the Council stated.
To address this, the council urged: Immediate negotiations between the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and JNPSNC; Development of new salary templates setting the minimum for Grade Level 01 Step 1 at ₦154,000 per month; Harmonization of wages across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with encouragement for sub-national adoption; Automatic cost-of-living adjustments linked to inflation; and Non-monetary welfare initiatives, including subsidized transport and affordable housing.
The Council described a timely wage review as both an economic and social necessity, essential for maintaining industrial harmony, workforce motivation, and effective public service delivery. It also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving 100% gratuity payment to retiring federal workers, calling it a bold step toward ensuring that retirees escape post-service poverty.
Copies of the letter were sent to key government and union leaders, including the Ministers of Finance and Labour, the NSIWC Chairman, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the DSS, and both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
