The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has called on the Federal Government to raise the minimum monthly salary of its lowest-paid worker to ₦300,000, arguing that the current earnings of federal employees have become increasingly inadequate amid the rising cost of living.
The association made the demand during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, November 12, 2026, where it discussed workers’ welfare, salary conditions and the growing economic challenges facing public servants.
The National President of ASCSN, Shehu Mohammed, said the existing ₦70,000 national minimum wage could no longer guarantee workers a decent standard of living because the prices of essential goods and services continued to increase.
He identified food, transportation, energy and healthcare as some of the major expenses putting pressure on workers’ incomes, explaining that many employees now struggle to meet their household responsibilities despite receiving their monthly salaries.
Mohammed maintained that the government needed to take immediate steps to improve workers’ earnings instead of depending on temporary financial assistance that could not provide lasting relief.
₦300,000 Minimum Salary Demand Linked to Rising Living Costs
The union president argued that the financial difficulties confronting federal workers required a comprehensive review of the existing salary structure rather than another round of temporary interventions.
According to him, the government should not wait until the next statutory minimum wage negotiation cycle before considering an increase in workers’ salaries, particularly as the economic conditions affecting employees continue to change.
He called for the lowest-paid federal worker to receive ₦300,000 monthly, alongside appropriate adjustments for employees occupying higher salary grade levels.
The proposed adjustments, he explained, would help maintain a reasonable difference between salary levels and ensure that workers across different positions receive fair consideration during any review.
The association also expressed dissatisfaction with the incomplete implementation of previous relief measures, particularly the 2023 wage awards introduced to support workers during an earlier period of economic hardship.
Mohammed argued that temporary wage awards and other financial palliatives could not replace a sustainable salary structure capable of responding to the changing economic realities facing Nigerian workers.
Beyond the proposed salary increase, ASCSN raised concerns about outstanding promotion arrears, peculiar allowances and retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The union also called for the implementation of gratuity payments for federal public servants, stressing that workers who had completed their years of service should receive their retirement entitlements without unnecessary delays.
These demands formed part of the association’s broader position that improving public service conditions should involve more than adjustments to monthly salaries.
Labour Minister Calls for Stronger Government-Labour Engagement
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, called on the Federal Government and organised labour to strengthen their relationship through dialogue and constructive engagement.
The minister made the appeal at the association’s meeting, which focused on the theme, ‘From Confrontation to Collaboration’.
Dingyadi maintained that disagreements between government authorities and labour organisations should not automatically lead to prolonged industrial disputes, as both parties could achieve better outcomes through regular discussions and cooperation.
He encouraged labour representatives to continue presenting workers’ concerns while urging government officials to maintain open communication and consider practical solutions to issues affecting public servants.
The minister’s comments came as the association pressed for an immediate salary review and the settlement of outstanding workers’ entitlements.
However, the union’s ₦300,000 minimum salary proposal has not received approval from the Federal Government. The demand should therefore not be interpreted as an announcement of a new salary structure or an immediate increase in federal workers’ earnings.
If the government considers the proposal, further discussions and policy decisions would be necessary to determine its implementation, funding requirements and possible adjustments across the federal civil service.
The demand has added another dimension to Nigeria’s ongoing discussions about workers’ welfare, inflation and the ability of public sector employees to maintain a decent standard of living as the cost of essential goods and services continues to affect household finances.
