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

The Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has renewed his call for the implementation of a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers, insisting that state governments have the financial capacity to pay the amount without waiting for federal approval.

Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Bukar Goni, revealed that the Federal Government was prepared and financially capable of paying a N150,000 minimum wage to civil servants, but the proposal faced opposition from state governments, local councils and the private sector.

The civil servants’ demand formed part of the resolutions reached at the end of a two-day National Retreat and Expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the JNPSNC 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 were struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.

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

“The federal and state governments should implement intervention measures to mitigate the present undeserved hardship. Consequently, governments at all levels should urgently consider the approval and implementation of 400 per cent of the 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, 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.
SPEAKING with journalists in Sokoto yesterday, Dasuki said governors did not have to consult with President Bola Tinubu before increasing workers’ salaries.

He also argued that the improved revenue profile of states made the proposed wage realistic and achievable.

“I don’t think governors need to wait for consultations with the President before implementing a new minimum wage. Most states today have the capacity to pay N100,000 and above, considering the increased revenues accruing to them,” Dasuki stated.

The lawmaker said that improving workers’ welfare had become imperative in view of the prevailing economic realities, rising inflation and the increasing cost of living across the country.

Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto, Abdullahi Maigwandu, praised Dasuki’s leadership qualities and criticised some lawmakers from the state, describing them as “bench warmers” in the National Assembly.

GONI called for an urgent amendment to the 1999 Constitution to remove minimum wage from the Concurrent Legislative List, arguing that this would allow wages to be determined by the financial capacity of states, local councils and private employers.

He made the remarks while delivering the lead lecture at the Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series and Awards organised by the Bureau of Public Service at NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 United Nations Public Service Day.

The event attracted dignitaries, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunde Disu, represented by AIG Uche Ifeanyi; Prof. Tunji Olaopa; and Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented by the state’s Head of Service, Prof. Mauzu Shehu.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation and Inclusion’, Goni recalled the challenges he encountered during negotiations on the minimum wage.

According to him, as Chairman of the Minimum Wage Negotiations Committee, discussions were conducted under intense pressure, with negotiations stalling for several days as state governments, local government authorities, labour unions and private-sector representatives struggled to reach a consensus.

“The Federal Government was willing to pay N150,000 as Minimum wage for workers, but the states and local councils said they could not afford it. In the case of the representatives of the private sectors, they said, ‘Look, we cannot pay. You have increased fuel prices, you have increased tariffs on electricity, so the only way we can pay is to downsize.’

“And for us at the Federal level, downsizing will compound Nigeria’s problems. Nobody wants to hear that someone has been asked to go home from work because the Federal Government increased wage. So, unless the 1999 Constitution is amended, Nigeria may not be able to address the minimum wage issue holistically. The amendment will allow for ‘pay as you can afford’ across all sectors,” Goni said.