The National Public Service Negotiating Council, NPSNC, has demanded a N154,000 minimum wage, a 120 per cent upward review, of salaries and allowances for public workers in Nigeria to mitigate what it described as the “life of servitude” currently being experienced in the country.

The demand was contained in a letter addressed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, dated March 12, 2026, with reference number JNPSNC/Gen/Cor/Vol 1/163, 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.”

The letter was jointly signed by the National Chairman JNPSNC, Benjamin Anthony, and the National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga.

The JNPSNC (Trade Union size) premised its demand on the outcome of an exhaustive meeting of the JNPSNC held on Monday, March 9, 2026, at the AUPCTRE National Secretariat, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

The letter stated inter alia that: “the National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), writes to respectfully but firmly call the attention of your esteemed office to the urgent necessity for an upward review of salaries and allowances of all serving Public Servants in the Nigeria Public Service.

“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 council noted that 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.

“It is important to note that the last major adjustments in workers’ remuneration have not sufficiently kept pace with the current economic realities.

“Many workers are now struggling to meet basic financial obligations, which has inevitably affected the morale, motivation, and overall productivity within the Public Service.”

The council stated that the national leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council therefore strongly advocates an immediate and comprehensive review of the existing salary structure and allowances to reflect current economic conditions and ensure fairness, equity, and sustainability in workers’ remuneration.

“An upward review of workers’ salaries and allowances is very desideratum,” it stated.

It further noted that workers in the Nigerian Public Service have continued to demonstrate remarkable patience, professionalism, and commitment to their duties despite the prevailing economic difficulties.

However, it stressed that concrete steps must now be taken to safeguard their welfare and dignity.

In the light of the foregoing, the council called on the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to urgently initiate the necessary processes for the upward review of salaries and allowances of public servants in Nigeria.

The council made the following proposals: Initiate Immediate Negotiations: Direct the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and relevant committees to begin immediate discussions with the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to negotiate for an upward review of salaries and allowances.

Consequently, new salary templates should be developed such that the minimum salary payable to an officer on Grade Level 01 Step 1 shall be N154,000 per month for Federal Public Servants (120% increase in Salaries and allowances); Harmonise Wages: Ensure that the upward review is applied across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and strongly encourage implementation at sub-national levels to ensure equity;

Implement Cost-of-Living Adjustments: Introduce automatic, periodic salary and allowance adjustments that align with inflation rates to prevent the recurring lag between wage review cycles; and Prioritise Welfare Components: In addition to basic salary, implement non-monetary incentives such as subsidised transportation and affordable housing for civil servants.

The council emphasised that a timely upward review of public servants’ salaries and allowances is 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.

It also reiterated its commitment to constructive dialogue with the government, saying “We remain committed to constructive dialogue, resourceful engagement and collaboration with the government toward achieving a fair, sustainable, and mutually beneficial outcome for all stakeholders.

“We trust that this request will receive the prompt attention and action it deserves in the interest of workers, the Public Service as an institution and the nation at large; so as to nip in the bud possible escalation that may nosedive into spontaneous social unrest.”

… Commends Tinubu

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the council commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving 100 per cent gratuity payment to retiring federal public servants.

The commendation was conveyed through the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

According to the council, the approval represents a major step towards improving the welfare of retiring public servants.

From the perspective of the national leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, the approval is not only a positive development but also “a bold step towards ensuring that retiring Public Servants escape the life of servitude and serfdom often being experienced when out of Public Service which is always characterized by impoverished life after service.”

The council added that the approval “is a profound acknowledgement of the invaluable contributions of our Civil Servants who have devoted their productive years to public service and national development.”

It further noted that the dedication and commitment of public servants have continued to keep the machinery of government running in areas such as policy formulation, implementation of government programmes, and the provision of essential public services.

To demonstrate the seriousness of the demand, copies of the letter were sent to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohamed Daginyadi, the Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the State Security Service, as well as the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. (Vanguard)

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