The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind calls by public sector workers for the Federal Government to reduce the pump price of petrol to ₦500 per litre and introduce a ₦500,000 minimum salary under a proposed new wage structure.
The demands were contained in a submission by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, which cited the rising cost of fuel and its impact on workers and households.
The council urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to begin discussions with the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other relevant stakeholders on an immediate wage award and a review of salaries and allowances across the public service.
Workers Seek ₦500 Petrol
The workers argued that the sharp increase in petrol prices has contributed significantly to the rising cost of transportation, food and other essential goods.
They cited petrol prices of about ₦1,430 per litre or more in some parts of the country and called for government intervention to bring the price down to ₦500.
According to the council, reducing the cost of petrol would have a wider impact on the economy because transportation costs influence the prices of food, housing and other basic necessities.
The JNPSNC also supported the NLC’s call for the government to supply crude oil in naira to local refineries and expand national petroleum storage capacity as part of measures to strengthen energy security.
NLC Supports Wage Award
The labour movement also backed the demand for an immediate Wage Award for workers at the federal, state and local government levels.
The proposed wage award is being presented as a short-term intervention ahead of negotiations for a new National Minimum Wage expected to take effect from January 2027.
The JNPSNC called for a committee to be established immediately to begin negotiations, arguing that starting the process early would prevent delays in implementing the new wage structure.
Under its proposed 2027 salary template, the council wants an officer on Grade Level 01, Step 1 to earn at least ₦500,000 monthly.
Workers Give September 30 Deadline
The council asked the Federal Government to respond to its demands by September 30, 2026, warning that continued economic pressure was creating growing tension among workers and the wider population.
It also called for periodic reviews of salaries and allowances in line with inflation, alongside measures such as subsidised transportation and affordable housing for public servants.
The workers said rising fuel, food, transport, healthcare, education and housing costs had significantly reduced the purchasing power of their existing salaries.
Labour Calls for More Support for Local Refineries
The NLC has also argued that Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country should allow the government to provide greater protection against international energy price shocks.
NLC President Joe Ajaero had called for sufficient crude to be sold in naira to domestic refineries and for the country’s storage capacity to be expanded.
The labour organisation said such measures could help create jobs, strengthen local refining and reduce the impact of external disruptions on the domestic fuel market.
The latest demands come amid renewed concerns over the cost of living and the effect of rising petrol prices on Nigerian workers.
For now, the ₦500 petrol price and ₦500,000 salary remain demands from labour and public-sector workers, rather than approved government policy.
