From Kayemo News
The National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has written President Bola Tinubu on the need to urgently approve wage awards and upward review of salaries and allowances due to the effects of the ever increasing fuel prices in the country.
The labour leaders stated that they cannot continue to keep silent with the level of hardship being faced by workers.
Full details of labour correspondence below:
HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR,
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
State House, Aso Rock,
Abuja.
*URGENT NEED FOR THE APPROVAL OF WAGE AWARD, UPWARD REVIEW OF SALARIES, ALLOWANCES TO WORKERS TO MITIGATE THE UNPRECEDENTED EVER INCREASING FUEL PRICES AND SETTING UP OF COMMITTEE FOR THE 2027 NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE FOR WORKERS.*
The National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), writes to express the deep feelings of Nigerian workers on the current harsh economic situation in Nigeria which was further compounded by the recent increase in fuel prices to N1, 430 and more in some places in Nigeria.
These hard feelings of workers and Nigerians have necessitated the urgent need to call the attention of your Excellency to provide a lifeline to safe the innocent lives of Nigerian workers and millions of their suffering dependants
It is no more news that for the past three years when fuel subsidy was removed which thereafter triggered astronomical fuel price hike and the multiplier negative effects on the prices of essential commodities across all facet of Nigeria economic space, lives of Nigerians have become unbearable and just like living in the hell of fire.
*it has dawned on the Nigerian workers that provision of palliatives such as bags of rice, indomie, vegetable oil, gaari among other edible foods are as good as weaponising Nigerians with poverty because it is a phyrric intervention which is unsustainable, unaccessible to majority of Nigerians population and also it is limited to political cronies*
*Consequent upon the above, it is preferable that the Federal Government should provide intervention that will trickle down to all Nigerians by making fuel available with affordable amount as low as (N500) five hundred Naira, at the amount the fuel was been sold when subsidy was first removed in the year 2023.*
CONCERNED OF THE NIGERIAN WORKERS
1. RESTORATION OF WORKERS’ PURCHASING POWER:
Adjusting workers’ salaries and allowances will help offset the impact of inflation and restore the ability of workers to meet basic living expenses.
2. THERE WILL BE IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY:
When workers are adequately compensated, their morale and commitment to duty are significantly enhanced, leading to improved efficiency in public service delivery.
3. PROMOTION OF INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
Fair renumeration will reduce economic pressures that may expose workers to unethical practices and strengthens transparency in public institutions.
4. REINFORCEMENT OF TRUST AND SUSTAINABILITY OF INDUSTRIAL PEACE:
Addressing workers’ welfare through salary review will reinforce trust between government and labour, thereby promoting stability and harmony within the public service.
Consequent upon the recent development and as a matter of necessity, the National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council hereby request for the underlisted to urgently address the life threatening drift, the harsh economic reality is splashing in the lives of Nigerian workers and their dependants by the President if the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR:
1. *STABILITY IN THE FUEL PRICES:*
The Federal Government should look inward and stabilize the prices of fuel to an affordable minimum, being an essential commodity that determines the performances of both macro and micro Nigeria economy.
As a matter of reality, the current hardship being faced by the hapless Nigerian workers is caused by the astronomical increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to as much as N1, 430.00, or more per one litre (this is a killing amount).
The continued increase in fuel prices unabated has had multiplier effects in all facets of life, hence, Federal government should provide an intervention fund to stakeholders in the oil sector in order to stabilize the fuel price to a benchmark and thereafter reduce the prices of fuel to (N500) five hundred Naira that will be affordable by average Nigerians, Federal Government may wish to use any name to describe the intervention fund, if “fuel subsidy” is a forbidden language to the Federal Government as well as, those in the oil and gas parlance
The fuel intervention fund, will give the opportunity to every Nigerian to benefit from the intervention fund because it will have multiplier effect in the life of every Nigerian and will naturally trickle down to the downtrodden and all the remotest parts of the country
As part of practical efforts at ensuring that there is stability in the fuel prices on the strength of the above, the National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council Trade Union Side wishes to stand on the side of the Nigeria Labour Congress on the statement duly signed by the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero who suggested as stated below:
” _Nigeria as an oil-producing country we have sufficient local refining capacity even as this substantially resides with the private sector.”_
_“As a nation, and as a people endowed with enormous fossil resources, we are deserving of a certain level of protection or buffer against the gales from the Gulf, and indeed, other gales.’_
_‘”As part of the process of creating this buffer government should sell sufficient crude in Naira to our local refineries; expand our national storage capacity in pursuance of meeting energy emergencies and security. These measures will create jobs, economic value as well as deal with mutating security challenges.”_
_“There is nothing wrong with government subsidizing the needs of citizens, especially in emergency situations like this. At the moment, there is no oil-producing country we know of that has not intervened or come up with sustainable palliatives in one way or the other in these perilous times “_
_“Government is making extra money in the international spot market (of between USD35 and 40 per barrel above the budgeted figure). This translates to trillions of Naira a month.’_
_“On a long term basis, we are equally concerned that local refineries are importing crude. This is unreasonable and unacceptable and defeats the logic and purpose of local capacity.”_
The National leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council hereby wholeheartedly subscribe to the submission of NLC leadership and government should show sincerity and consider the suggestions for urgent implementation.
*_2. WAGE AWARD PAYMENT SHOULD BE INTRODUCED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT:_*
Wage Award as an urgent intervention and upward review of salaries and allowances of all serving Public Servants in the Nigeria Public Service should be provided with immediate effect to cut across all Federal, State and Local Government workers.
The wage Award will be a precursor to the substantive New National minimum wage which shall be due by the grace of God in January, 2027
*3. IMMEDIATE SETTING UP OF COMMITTEE FOR THE NEGOTIATION OF NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM DUE IN 2027:*
There is urgent need to immediately set up committee for the negotiation of New National Minimum Wage to accelerate the commencement of the New National Minimum Wage before 2027 so that it can take effect from January, 2027.
From time immemorial, if the committee is not put i.n place in few months before it is due, the benefiting workers will be short-changed in the commencement date of implementation which always staggered to the middle of the year
There is no gainsaying in the fact that Public Servants remain not only the backbone of governance and national development but also the live wire of any administration.
As a result of the dedication and commitment of Public Servants the machinery of government continues to function in the areas of policy formulation, implementation of government programmes, and the provision of essential Public Services.
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.
Over the years, Nigeria has experienced unprecedented economic pressures characterized by high inflation, increased fuel prices, rising transportation costs, and the 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’ renumeration 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 National leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council therefore strongly advocates for an immediate and comprehensive implementation of the aforelisted suggestions in earnest.
However, it has become imperative that concrete steps be taken to safeguard Nigeria Workers welfare and dignity as well as generality of vulnerable Nigerians.
In the light of the foregoing, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council respectfully calls on the father of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to urgently take appropriate actions as stated below:
*i. INITIATE IMMEDIATE NEGOTIATIONS* :
Direct the National Salaries, Income and Wage Commission (NSIWC) to begin immediate discussions with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) and other relevant stakeholders to give Wage Award, negotiate for upward review of Salaries and Allowances.
*ii. SETTING UP OF APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE ON 2027 NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE* :
Most importantly , Mr. President should set up appropriate committee to discuss 2027 new National minimum wage salary templates such that the Minimum Salary payable to an officer on Grade Level 01 step 1 shall be N500,000 per month for Public Servants ( i.e. over 600%) increase in Salaries and allowances.
*iii. HARMONIZED WAGES:*
Ensure that the upward review is applied across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and strongly encouraged at sub-national levels (i.e. State and Local Governments levels) to ensure equity).
*iv. IMPLEMENT COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS:*
Introduce automatic, periodical Salaries and Allowances adjustments that will align with inflation rates to prevent the recurring lag between wage review cycles.
*v. PRIORITIZE WELFARE COMPONENTS:*
In addition to basic salary, implement non-monetary incentives such as subsidized various types of transportation systems and provide affordable housing for civil servants.
A timely upward review of Public Servants Salaries and Allowances are 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 and ecosystem.t
We remain committed to constructive dialogue, resourceful engagement and collaboration with the government toward achieving a fair, sustainable, and mutually beneficial outcome for all Nigerian workers, their millions of dependants, hapless Nigerian masses and all stakeholders int Nigeria project.
*Your Excellency, we trust that this request will receive the prompt attention and action it deserves in the interest of Nigerian workers and their dependants, the Public Service as an age long institution and the nation at large on or before Wednesday 30th September, 2026 to douse the palpable tension that may erupt.*
It is the high expectations of Nigerian workers and all patriotic Nigerians that your Independence Day broadcast will attend to our sincere suggestions in order to bring succour andt life back to all dying Nigerians.
Please, accept the assurances of our highest esteem and solidarity.
*Yours in the Service for humanity,*
Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga milr fcia fimpa JP
National Secretary,
Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC)
Trade Union Side