The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has called on the Federal Government to increase the monthly minimum wage for federal workers to ₦300,000, citing the rising cost of living and worsening economic conditions.
The National President of the association, Comrade Shehu Mohammed, made the demand on Thursday during the organisation’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi.
Mohammed argued that the existing ₦70,000 national minimum wage was no longer sufficient to provide Nigerian workers with a decent standard of living amid persistent inflation and economic hardship.
He urged the Federal Government to introduce a substantial and sustainable salary adjustment rather than continue relying on temporary financial assistance and wage awards.
According to the labour leader, previous interventions have failed to adequately address workers’ financial difficulties, particularly following the incomplete implementation of relief measures introduced in 2023.
He maintained that temporary financial support could not replace a comprehensive salary review capable of reflecting current economic realities.
The ASCSN president also urged the government not to wait until the next statutory minimum wage negotiation before taking action on workers’ salaries.
“Rather than waiting until the next statutory minimum wage negotiation cycle, we demand that the Federal Government should act immediately by raising the salary of its lowest-paid worker to ₦300,000, with appropriate consequential adjustments across higher salary grade levels,” Mohammed said.
Beyond the proposed minimum wage increase, the association called for the payment of outstanding promotion arrears, peculiar allowances and retirement benefits owed to workers under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Mohammed stressed that addressing these outstanding entitlements was necessary to improve workers’ welfare and restore confidence in the government’s commitment to labour agreements.
Responding to the demands, the Minister of Labour and Employment called for improved cooperation between the Federal Government and organised labour to address issues affecting Nigerian workers.
Dingyadi urged both parties to prioritise constructive dialogue and mutual understanding, noting that disagreements should not automatically result in strikes or prolonged industrial disputes.
He maintained that sustained engagement remained the best approach to resolving labour-related challenges and reaching agreements that would benefit workers and the country.
“Government listens, Labour speaks, and together we find solutions that work for workers and for the nation,” the minister said.
The ASCSN’s demand comes amid growing calls from organised labour for improved wages and better working conditions as Nigerian workers continue to grapple with rising living expenses.
