Hardship: Civil servants demand 400% wage increase

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Civil servants under the umbrella of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, Trade Union Side have called on the federal government and state governments to approve and implement a 400 per cent increase in the current N70,000 national minimum wage to cushion the devastating effects of the country’s economic hardship.

The demand formed part of resolutions reached at the end of a two-day National Retreat and Expanded National Executive Council, or NEC, meeting of the JNPSNC held at the Oasis Conference and Event Centre, Osogbo, Osun State.

In a communiqué signed by the National Chairman of the council, Benjamin Uyanto, and the National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, they expressed concern over the declining purchasing power of Nigerian workers, saying many public servants are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.

According to the communiqué, the current economic realities have left workers and their dependants facing severe hardship, necessitating urgent government intervention.

“The federal and state governments should implement intervention measures to mitigate the current undeserved hardship. Consequently, governments at all levels should urgently consider the approval and implementation of 400 per cent of the current N70,000 national minimum wage to address the prevailing economic challenges confronting workers and their families,” they stated.

The meeting, which attracted national and state leaders of affiliate unions, state chairmen, secretaries and other officers from across the federation, also urged organised labour and government to commence discussions on a new national minimum wage by July 2026 ahead of the statutory review due in the first quarter of 2027.

The council noted that early negotiations would prevent delays, mistrust and disputes that often trail wage review processes.

On the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, the union expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of some state governments to fully implement consequential salary adjustments arising from the wage increase.

It warned that the national leadership of JNPSNC would take “appropriate hard steps” against any state government that refuses to implement the approved adjustments for workers.

The council also raised concerns over the non-implementation of agreements reached through collective bargaining by both federal and state governments, describing the trend as a major source of mistrust between government and workers.

On workers’ welfare, the union called for the immediate implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, urging the accountant-general of the federation to expedite payment without further delay.

It also demanded the implementation of occupational hazard allowances approved for some agricultural professionals in the public service, lamenting delays despite approval by the 46th National Council on Establishment.

The council urged the federal government to take urgent steps to revive the economy, strengthen the naira, improve electricity generation and provide tax reliefs to workers and investors to stimulate industrial growth and local production.

The retreat and NEC meeting were attended by top government officials, including the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke; representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour; heads of service; permanent secretaries; and directors of establishment matters from several states across the federation.

At the end of the meeting, participants passed a vote of confidence on the national leadership of the JNPSNC and approved a four-year single tenure for both national and state leadership positions of the council, effective from the next election.

This version follows the style and structure commonly used by Nigerian national newspapers.

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