Public servants across Nigeria have been directed to embark on a three-day warning strike beginning Friday, October 2, 2026, as workers protest worsening economic conditions and the failure of the Federal Government to address their outstanding demands.
The directive was issued by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council in a circular dated October 1, 2026, signed by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga.
Under the arrangement, the industrial action will commence at midnight on Friday and run through Sunday, October 4, with workers in the Federal, state and local government services expected to participate.
The council said the decision followed the alleged failure of the Federal Government to respond to demands contained in a letter submitted to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, 2026.
According to the council, workers and their dependants are facing severe economic pressure, with the rising cost of living increasingly affecting their ability to meet basic needs.
“The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating,” the council stated.
It therefore directed its national and state leadership structures to immediately commence mobilisation for the warning strike, urging public servants across the country to participate in the action.
“All public servants in the services of Federal, State and Local Governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all,” the council said.
The planned strike is linked to a series of demands earlier presented to the Federal Government as measures to ease the impact of rising living costs on workers.
Among the demands are a reduction in the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, the approval of an immediate wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The council said the demands had become necessary amid the continued increase in the prices of essential commodities, transportation and other household expenses, which it said had further reduced workers’ purchasing power.
Announcing the commencement of the industrial action, the council said, “The strike shall start with effect from midnight of Friday, 2nd October, 2026, to Sunday, October 4th, 2026.”
The council also called on its leaders to intensify mobilisation efforts ahead of the action, urging them to ensure that the strike notice reached workers in their respective jurisdictions.
“The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!” it declared.
The council concluded by urging its members to circulate the directive widely, expressing optimism that the industrial action would achieve its objectives.
“Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is victory for us!!!” the circular added.
