NLC Supports ₦500,000 Minimum Wage and Petrol Price Cut

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has endorsed the demand from civil servants for a new national minimum wage of ₦500,000 and a reduction in petrol prices to ₦500 per litre. This demand was articulated in a letter to President Bola Tinubu by Olowoyo Gbenga, National Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side.

The unions argue that the proposed minimum wage is realistic due to the rising costs of essential goods and services, which have diminished workers' purchasing power. They highlighted that petrol prices have surged to ₦1,430 per litre in some regions, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis.

The JNPSNC has set a deadline of September 30, 2026, for the Federal Government to respond to these demands, warning of increasing tensions among workers. The unions criticized temporary relief measures, advocating instead for sustainable solutions that would lower petrol prices and improve workers' remuneration to enhance purchasing power and productivity.