Senior Civil Servants Release New Minimum Wage Demand

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has demanded an increase in the minimum wage for federal workers from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000 monthly, citing rising living costs and worsening economic hardship.

The association also called for the immediate payment of outstanding gratuities and the establishment of state police, warning that insecurity continues to threaten the lives and livelihoods of workers and their families.

The demands were made at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the ASCSN in Abuja, where its National President, Shehu Mohammed, argued that the current ₦70,000 minimum wage had lost its purchasing power and could no longer guarantee workers a decent standard of living.

Legit.ng reported that Mohammed urged the Federal Government to move beyond temporary financial interventions and introduce a sustainable salary increase that reflects the country’s prevailing economic realities.

He expressed concern that the failure to fully implement previous relief packages, particularly the 2023 wage awards, had weakened workers’ confidence in temporary government interventions.

The labour leader therefore urged the Federal Government not to wait until the next statutory minimum wage negotiation before reviewing workers’ salaries.

He said the government should immediately increase the salary of its lowest-paid worker to ₦300,000 monthly, alongside appropriate adjustments for employees on higher salary grades.

The association also demanded the settlement of outstanding promotion arrears, peculiar allowances and retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

At the meeting, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, reportedly called for mutual respect between government and organised labour during negotiations.

Speaking under the theme, From Confrontation to Collaboration, Falana maintained that meaningful cooperation between both parties would depend on how government treats workers during discussions over their welfare.

He argued that respect and fairness at the negotiating table were necessary for achieving lasting agreements.

Meanwhile, Mohammed raised concerns over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, disclosing that a committee established by the Minister of Education, with input from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, had submitted its recommendations.

He insisted that the safety and welfare of workers must remain central to any decision concerning the institution.

The association also acknowledged improvements in pension payments in Katsina, Kano and some federal government agencies, but urged other state governments and public institutions yet to fulfil their obligations to retirees to do so without further delay.

The development comes amid growing pressure on the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, as rising food, transportation, energy and healthcare costs continue to put pressure on household incomes.

The ₦300,000 demand, however, remains a proposal by the senior civil servants’ association and does not represent an approved change to Nigeria’s existing ₦70,000 national minimum wage.