From Kayemo News
The National Executive Council NEC meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC Trade Union Side has challenged the Federal Government to improve on Nigeria to enable Nigerians live normal lives.
This position forms part of the decision reached at the end of its two days meeting which featured both National Retreat/ Workshop and NEC meeting attended by participants across the 36 States including Federal Capital Territory with the theme; “CONSOLIDATING SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND INDUSTRIAL PEACE FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY’.
In the (15) fifteen paragraphs communique issued at the end of the meeting signed by both the National Chairman Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto mni and National National Secretary Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council highlighted the urgent need for the Federal government to address the issue of the downturn in the Nigeria economy ,; the meeting raised the alarm that Naira is becoming weaker, the meeting suggested introduction of various incentives to promote local productions via establishment of cottage industries and industrial companies that can drive Nigeria economy and promote export to scale down high premium on dollars which has weakened Nigeria currency
“In the same vein, the Federal Government should improve on the electricity generation, provide tax relief to both Public Servants and prospective investors to encourage industrial revolution and to appropriately legislate on these policies to pave for trust building and sustainability.
The strength of Nigeria currency has been weakened because the Federal Government has continued to promote consuming economic policies over production economy, the pretension of our leaders at various levels have continued to be the major Nigeria albatross.
The meeting challenged Nigeria economic management team to evolve economic policies that will salvage Nigeria as a country and Nigerian workers and their dependants to make Nigeria currency stronger so that hydra headed inflation can be tamed
This position was contained in a communique issued at the end of two days Retreat/workshop and NEC meeting held at the Oasis Conference and event centre in Oshogbo Osun State between 17th and 18th June 2026
The fifteen (15) paragraphs communique was signed by both the National Chairman Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto mni and the National Secretary Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC Trade Union Side
The details of the communique are hereby inter alia presented below:
*Preamble*
1.0 The programme was organised purposely to consolidate on the important roles of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC)Trade Union Side , which was established in 1948 as a Whitley Council, it ran for two days i.e Wednesday 17th June,2026 which featured Retreat / workshop while, Thursday 18th June 2026 featured expanded National Executive Council meeting (NEC) having National Presidents and General Secretaries of all affiliate Unions as well as State Chairmen , Secretaries, other National and State Officers of JNPSNC in attendance. The meeting was presided over by the National Chairman of the JNPSNC Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto mni.
2.0 The programme was declared open by the Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator (Dr) Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi was represented by the Zonal Director Lagos Office of the Federal Ministry of Labour Mrs Mimi Badejo, the Deputy Governor, of Osun State His Excellency, Prince kola Adewusi was also in attendance including the Osun State Head of Civil Service; Elder Samuel Ayanleye Aina among other high ranking Government Officials.
His Excellency the Executive Governor of Osun State Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke was commended for his physical presence and for providing a good atmosphere for the programme to hold seamlessly and successfully.
3.0 Also in attendance were Permanent Secretaries from Rivers State, Bauchi State, Kano State, Taraba State, and numerous Directors of Establishment and Service Matters from across the federation.
4.0 The meeting critically considered varieties of issues affecting welfare of both Federal and State Public Servants and after exhaustive deliberations on various topical issues the meeting resolved as follows:
5.0 *Commendation*
5.1, The meeting commended the National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) Trade Union Side for their thoughtful initiative for organising the Retreat/ workshop and NEC meeting which afforded participants to thrash out critical issues affecting workers across the country.
5. 2, The meeting appreciated the participants who came from across the states of the federation and Federal Council and they all actively participated .
5.3, The meeting advocated for sincerity on the part of government in the implementation of agreement after collective bargaining engagement; it has become a stock in trade of both Federal and State governments to abandon memorandum of understanding agreed to after negotiation which always divest into mistrust and suspicion.
5.4, The meeting cautioned the State government not to backtrack on the existing arrangements as contained in the domesticated versions of contributory pension scheme in some states where workers that have specific lesser years were exempted from the scheme, while workers that were newly employed who had started with the contributing pension scheme should be left to continue, any attempt to lump all the Workers’ that have shorter years in the Service will spell doom during their retirements , hence, it is advisable to such State governments to think deeply to avoid backlash and industrial unrest.
5.5 *Non implementation of consequential adjustments by few state governments*
The meeting reviewed the level of implementation of consequential adjustments on the N70,000 National Minimum Wage by State government across the federation; after exhaustive discussions on the matter the meeting resolved that the National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) Trade Union will take appropriate hard steps on such State Governor(s) to ensure its implementation
5,6 The meeting resolved that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation should put all necessary machinery in place to review the scheme of service on account that the existing scheme of service had short-changed many cadres that could have enjoyed career progression in the Public Service. The meeting reminded the Head of Civil Service of the Federation that the need for the review of the scheme of service has been approved at the 46th National Council on Establishment (NCE)meeting held at the Admust Concept, Hotels and Suites, Ede, Osun State on Thursday 7th November, 2024
5.7 The meeting concurred with the call by both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the urgent need to commence discussion in July 2026 on the review of New National Minimum Wage which will statutorily be due by the first quarter of year 2027.
5.8 The early commencement of the discussion on the New Minimum Wage, will prevent undue delay, shortchanging and mistrust from all stakeholders.
5.9 *Urgent need for salary increase*
The meeting decried the present predicament of Nigerian workers in terms of economic hardship workers are passing through due to shrink in their purchasing power, as a result of this debilitating scenario, Federal and State governments should implement intervention measures to mitigate the current undeserved hardship, hence, Federal and sub national government should urgently consider for approval and implementation of 400% of the current N70,000, National Minimum Wage to address the current economic challenges of workers and their dependants.
5.10 *Implementation of circular on 40% peculiar allowance issued by the National income salaries and Wages Commission*
The meeting commended both government and the National leadership of JNPSNC for the synergy which culminated into the release of circular on the 40% peculiar allowance reflecting on the N70,000 National Minimum Wage which the circular was released by the National salaries income and Wages Commission for its implementation.
To this end, the Accountant General of the Federation through the directive of the Minister of Finance and coordinating Minister of Economy to fast-track the implementation of the circular without agitations.
5.11 *Implementation on the decision of the National Council on Establishment on the payment of Occupational Hazard Allowance to some Agricultural Professionals in the Public Service.*
The meeting exhaustively deliberated on the non implementation of decisions already taken at 46th National Council on Establishment that Occupational Hazard Allowance to some Agricultural Professionals in the Public Service should be implemented.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who was signatory to the approval for the implementation of the memorandum should muster political will and issue the circular for the benefit of the affected Workers. The delay in the implementation of this decision is unjustifiable.
5.12 *Call for improvement in the Nigerian economy*
The meeting urged the Federal government to urgently address the issue of the downturn in the Nigeria economy the Naira is becoming weaker, the meeting suggested introduction of various incentives to promote local productions via establishment of cottage and industrial companies that can drive Nigeria economy and promote export to scale down high premium on dollars which has weakened Nigeria currency
5.13 In the same vein, the Federal Government should improve on the electricity generation, provide tax relief to both Public Servants and prospective investors to encourage industrial revolution and to appropriately legislate on these policies to pave for trust building and sustainability.
*5.14 The meeting approved Four (4) years of single term for both National and State leadership of JNPSNC and JPSNC respectively to ensure leadership stability with effect from next election*
5.15 The meeting admonished the National leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to ensure continuity of training, consultation, interaction and cross fertilisation of ideas more often among JNPSNC leadership , thereafter, the meeting passed a vote of confidence on the National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council for for showcasing good leadership qualities.