‘N500/litre fuel or N500,000 minimum wage’ – Workers write Tinubu, make fresh demands

Civil servants, represented by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, have sent a letter to President Bola Tinubu, demanding urgent action to address the growing economic struggles faced by workers. In their letter, the workers pleaded with the Federal Government to stabilize the price of petrol at N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award, and increase salaries and allowances for public servants.

They also called for the formation of a committee to negotiate a new National Minimum Wage by January 2027.

The workers contended that the recent surge in fuel prices, reaching N1,430 per litre and higher in certain areas, has exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis. They issued a deadline of September 30, 2026, for the Federal Government to respond to their demands, warning that the current hardships are causing significant tension among workers and the general population.

The workers argued that the removal of fuel subsidies three years ago has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices, which have, in turn, caused a ripple effect on the costs of essential goods throughout the economy.

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council emphasized that the situation has made life increasingly unbearable for workers, stating that providing food aid in the form of food palliatives is not a sustainable solution to the economic crisis. They argued that such measures are ineffective, inaccessible to most of the Nigerian population, and often limited to political allies.

Instead, the workers proposed a more sustainable approach: reducing the cost of fuel to N500 per litre, which would have a cascading effect on the economy.