Civil servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, have asked President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the worsening cost-of-living crisis, demanding cheaper petrol and higher wages.
In a letter to the President, the workers called on the Federal Government to stabilize the price of petrol at N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award, and review salaries and allowances across the public service.
They also demanded the immediate formation of a committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage ahead of January 2027.
The JNPSNC said the recent increase in petrol prices to about N1,430 per litre or more in some areas had further reduced workers’ purchasing power and increased the cost of transportation and essential goods.
The council gave the Federal Government until September 30, 2026, to act on its demands, warning that the worsening economic conditions were creating tension among workers and Nigerians.
The workers said food palliatives were not a sustainable response to the crisis, arguing instead that reducing fuel costs would provide broader relief across the economy.
The council also proposed a N500,000 minimum salary for Grade Level 01, Step 1 under a proposed 2027 salary structure, alongside harmonized wages across government agencies and periodic salary adjustments linked to inflation.
The latest demands come amid renewed concerns from organized labor over rising petrol prices. The Nigeria Labour Congress had also recently called for wage awards and other measures to cushion the impact of higher fuel costs.
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