Workers Give FG December 1 Deadline To Crash Petrol Price And Review Wages

According to a report by New Telegraph on Tuesday November 10 2026, the Federal Workers Forum has given the Federal Government until December 1 2026 to reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre and review workers wages.

The forum said the Federal Government should also reduce the prices of kerosene, diesel and cooking gas to N500. The forum warned that failure to meet the demands would lead to nationwide strikes and mass protests.

The demands were contained in a press release issued on Monday in Abuja. The statement was jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, and its General Secretary, Comrade Ayo Ogundele.

The forum also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to unite and return to the negotiation table with the government. The forum said the recently approved N70,000 transport allowance for federal workers was inadequate to address the prevailing economic hardship.

The forum demanded a comprehensive wage review to reflect prevailing economic realities. The forum proposed a new salary structure that would provide a minimum monthly wage of N300,000 for workers on Grade Level 1 and a maximum of N1.5 million for directors on Grade Level 17.

The forum also called for the full implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage, consequential adjustments and payment of outstanding entitlements.

The forum expressed concern over reports that only six months of the 28-month peculiar allowance arrears would be paid. The forum insisted that workers should receive their full entitlements.

In the statement, the forum said workers and the general public could no longer bear the burden of rising living costs. The statement partly reads that if the Federal Government remains adamant, the forum proposes the commencement of national strikes and mass protests starting December 1 2026 to compel the government to address the cost-of-living crisis and crash the price of petrol.

The forum specifically appealed to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the President of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo, to sheath their swords and work together in the interest of Nigerian workers.

The forum also called on workers, youths, students and civil society organisations to support the campaign for improved wages and better living conditions.

The demands have generated reactions across the country. Many workers welcomed the demands and said the current wages cannot meet basic needs. Other Nigerians said petrol at N500 per litre would reduce transport fares, food prices and the cost of doing business.

However, some observers said the Federal Government may not be able to reduce petrol to N500 per litre because of market forces and the cost of importation and refining. They said the government and labour should negotiate a realistic solution.

It is important to note that the demands remain proposals by the Federal Workers Forum. The demands do not represent an approved government salary structure or an agreed reduction in petrol prices.

As of Tuesday, the Federal Government had not issued an official response to the demands.

For now, workers are waiting. If the Federal Government does not respond before December 1, the forum said it will commence national strikes and mass protests.

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