Labour Union Calls for a Minimum Wage of 154,000 Naira in Response to Increasing Hardship
The National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), an arm of Organised Labour in Nigeria, has formally demanded a new minimum wage of 154,000 naira for public service workers. This demand, presented in a letter dated March 12, 2026, seeks a 120% upward review of current salaries and allowances to address the worsening economic hardship in the country. Essential Aspects of the Demand: The Figure: A proposed monthly minimum wage of 154,000 naira for a Grade Level 01 Step 1 officer. Unions cite "galloping inflation," soaring food prices, and increased transportation costs as reasons the current 70,000 naira benchmark is no longer sustainable. The demand was contained in a letter (Ref: JNPSNC/Gen/Cor/Vol 1/163) addressed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The proposal is intended to apply across all federal ministries, departments, and agencies, with a call for state governments to follow suit. The national minimum wa...