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| Joe Ajaero NLC president |
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed demands by Nigerian civil servants for a reduction in the price of petrol to N500 per litre and a new minimum wage of N500,000 amid concerns over the rising cost of living.
The demands were made by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, which also called for the immediate constitution of a committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage ahead of January 2027.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the council urged the Federal Government to introduce an immediate wage award for workers at the federal, state and local government levels, as well as review salaries and allowances across the public service.
The workers said the reported rise in petrol prices to N1,430 per litre or more in some locations had further increased pressure on households and contributed to the rising cost of essential goods and services.
The council gave the Federal Government until September 30, 2026, to respond to its demands, warning that the prevailing economic situation was increasing tension among workers and Nigerians.
The JNPSNC argued that food palliatives alone were not a sustainable response to the economic challenges facing workers. It instead called for measures capable of reducing transportation and other costs linked to high fuel prices.
The workers proposed a minimum monthly salary of N500,000 for an officer on Grade Level 01, Step 1, under a proposed 2027 salary structure.
They also called for harmonised wages across ministries, departments and agencies and urged the Federal Government to begin discussions with relevant labour organisations on the proposed wage award and salary review.
On petrol pricing, the council called for an intervention fund involving stakeholders in the oil sector, saying the measure could help stabilise fuel prices and eventually bring the pump price down to N500 per litre.
The council also advocated measures to strengthen local refining, including the supply of crude oil to domestic refineries and expansion of national storage capacity.
The NLC subsequently expressed support for the demands. Its Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, described the calls for a wage award and reduction in petrol prices as realistic and long overdue.
Upah said rising inflation had continued to erode workers’ earnings, while increasing fuel costs were affecting transportation, food and other essential expenses.
He said the impact of the economic situation extended beyond workers to other Nigerians, particularly vulnerable households, and urged the government to consider urgent measures to ease the pressure.