Public servants said they are beginning a three-day warning strike from midnight on Friday after the Federal Government failed to address demands over petrol prices, wage relief and negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, directed its national and state leadership to mobilise workers across the federal, state and local government services for the industrial action.
The strike will run from midnight on Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4, 2026
The directive was contained in a circular dated October 1 and signed by the JNPSNC National Secretary, Gbenga Olowoyo.
The council said the decision followed the Federal Government’s failure to respond to demands contained in a letter it sent to President Bola Tinubu on September 21.
The workers had given the government until September 30 to address their concerns, warning that failure to act would trigger the three-day warning strike.
The JNPSNC said the economic situation had become increasingly difficult for workers, their depend-ants and other vulnerable Nigerians.
It described the economic and mental hardship facing workers as “unbearable and frustrating” and directed its leaders to begin immediate mobilization for the industrial action.
The council urged all public servants in the federal, state and local government services to participate in the strike.
It said the action was necessary because workers and their depend-ants were struggling under the prevailing economic conditions.
One of the council’s major demands is for the Federal Government to reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol, to N500 per litre.
The JNPSNC said petrol prices were placing severe pressure on workers and households.
In its September 29 position, the council said petrol was selling for between N1,450 and N2,000 per litre in many areas and could reach N2,500 in some locations outside major cities.
It called for an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.
The council also urged the government to ensure that crude oil was sold to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms to encourage domestic refining and help reduce the cost of petroleum products.
The workers also want the Federal Government to approve an immediate wage award to provide financial relief for public servants.
The council said the measure would cushion the effects of rising living costs on workers, their depend-ants and vulnerable Nigerians.
It also argued that providing relief would help public servants maintain their commitment and productivity within the public service.
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Another major demand is the immediate constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The JNPSNC said starting the process early would help prevent administrative and procedural delays when a new wage is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly.
The council had earlier demanded that negotiations should begin for a new minimum wage of at least N500,000 from 2027.
The JNPSNC had warned the Federal Government that its Sept. 30 deadline was “sacrosanct”.
The council expected the government to respond to its demands, including through President Tinubu’s Independence Day address on October1.
However, the workers proceeded with the strike after the deadline passed without the council withdrawing its planned industrial action.
The October 1 circular formally directed the unions to commence mobilization and ensure that the strike notice reached workers nationwide.
The JNPSNC comprises eight public sector unions representing workers across different areas of the public service.
They include 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.
Others 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 council directed the leadership of the affiliate unions at national and state levels to communicate the strike directive to their members.
It also urged workers across the federal, state and local government services to comply with the action.
The three-day warning strike is intended to press the Federal Government to respond to the workers’ demands on petrol prices, immediate wage relief and preparations for negotiations on a new national minimum wage.
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