Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have threatened to commence a three-day warning strike from Friday, October 2, if the Federal Government fails to address their demands on petrol prices, wage award and negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The council said its September 30 deadline issued to the government remained sacrosanct, warning that workers had been mobilised for the proposed industrial action.
The position was contained in a statement issued by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, on Tuesday.
The council had earlier written to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, demanding urgent measures to ease the economic pressure on workers and their dependants. The demands include reducing the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N500 per litre, approving a fresh wage award and commencing negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
In the latest statement, Olowoyo said the council expected the Federal Government to address the demands by September 30, stressing that failure to do so would trigger the planned warning strike.
“The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: reduction of fuel price to N500 per litre,” the council stated.
It also demanded immediate financial relief for workers through a new wage award to cushion the effects of rising living costs.
“The Federal Government should urgently approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economic conditions being experienced by workers, their dependants, and vulnerable Nigerians,” the statement said.
The council further urged the government to immediately constitute a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.
The workers said the early commencement of negotiations was necessary to prevent administrative or procedural delays that could affect the implementation of any agreement eventually reached.
“The Nigerian workers’ demand for the immediate constitution of the committee is informed by the need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay that could affect the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage once it is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly,” Olowoyo said.
The JNPSNC said the proposed industrial action would commence on Friday, October 2, if the government failed to act on the demands by the September 30 deadline.
“Consequently, the council states that failure by the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to address these issues on or before 30th September 2026 will leave Nigerian workers with no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, 2nd October 2026, to press home their demands,” the statement added.
WORKERS DEMAND LOWER PETROL PRICE
The council said the high cost of petrol had placed considerable pressure on workers and the wider population, with petrol prices ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 per litre in different locations and reaching as high as N2,500 in some areas outside major communities and cities.
Olowoyo said the government could reduce the cost of petrol by providing an intervention fund to address landing costs and support operators in the oil and gas sector.
He also called for the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries on appropriate terms to encourage domestic refining and reduce the price of petroleum products.
“It is equally important for the Federal Government to ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries at appropriate terms to facilitate increased domestic refining and help bring down the price of petroleum products,” he said.
The council argued that the prevailing fuel prices were worsening the cost-of-living crisis and making it increasingly difficult for workers and their families to maintain a decent standard of living.
DEMAND FOR NEW MINIMUM WAGE
Beyond immediate relief through a wage award, the JNPSNC is seeking negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The council had earlier proposed a minimum salary of N500,000 for an officer on Grade Level 01, Step 1, under a proposed 2027 salary structure. It also called for the harmonisation of wages and an upward review of salaries and allowances across government institutions.
The JNPSNC is made up of eight public sector unions, including the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
Other affiliates are the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees; Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers; and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees.
The proposed strike deadline comes as the council continues to press the Federal Government over workers’ welfare and the rising cost of living.
