Workers to embark on Nationwide strike
Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have issued a three-day warning strike notice to the Federal Government over the rising cost of petrol, demands for a wage award and the proposed review of the national minimum wage.
The council said the strike would begin on October 2, 2026, if the government fails to address its demands by September 30.
The JNPSNC, which brings together eight unions in the public sector, said it had mobilised its members across the country for the planned industrial action.
The unions are calling for the price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, to be reduced to ₦500 per litre. They also want the Federal Government to approve a wage award for workers to reduce the pressure caused by the rising cost of living.
Another major demand is the immediate establishment of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new National Minimum Wage expected to take effect in 2027.
The council had earlier written to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, asking the Federal Government to take urgent steps on the three issues and other measures aimed at reducing the hardship faced by workers.
The unions said the current petrol price, which they put between ₦1,450 and ₦2,000 per litre in many areas and as high as ₦2,500 in some locations, had placed a heavy financial burden on workers and their families.
They argued that the high cost of fuel had affected transportation, household expenses and other basic needs, making it harder for workers and other Nigerians to cope with the economic situation.
The council also called for government intervention to reduce the cost of bringing petroleum products into the country and support local refining activities.
It urged the Federal Government to ensure that crude oil is supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators under suitable conditions to increase domestic production and help reduce the cost of petroleum products.
On the wage award, the public service unions said workers needed additional financial support to cope with the current economic conditions. They said approving the payment would help reduce the burden on workers, their dependants and other vulnerable Nigerians.
The council also wants the government to begin preparations for the next minimum wage without waiting until the current process reaches its deadline. It said early negotiations would help prevent delays in the introduction of a new wage structure in 2027.
The JNPSNC maintained that the September 30 deadline remained in place and warned that failure to address the issues would lead to the three-day warning strike from October 2.
The council also called on President Tinubu to address the concerns in his Independence Day address, saying workers were waiting for concrete steps from the government before the deadline.
The warning was contained in a statement issued by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga.
The unions said public servants would proceed with the planned action if the government failed to respond to their demands within the stated period.
