Public Servants Set October 2 Warning Strike Over Fuel Price, Wage Award
Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have reaffirmed their September 30, 2026 deadline to the Federal Government over the rising cost of petrol, demand for a wage award and commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The JNPSNC, comprising eight public sector unions, said it would commence a three-day warning strike from October 2 if the government failed to reduce the price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce a wage award and take other measures to cushion the impact of the economic hardship on workers.
Members of the council 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 said it had mobilised public servants across the country for the warning strike if the Federal Government failed to address the issues contained in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the September 30 deadline.
Recall that the JNPSNC, on September 21, wrote to Tinubu demanding a reduction in the petrol price to N500 per litre, immediate approval of a wage award and commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage of not less than N500,000 from 2027, among other demands.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, the council said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct, stressing that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be ignored.
The council called for urgent steps to reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit to N500 per litre, suggesting the provision of an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.
It also urged the Federal Government to ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries at appropriate terms to increase domestic refining and help reduce the price of petroleum products.
The council said the current PMS price, ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 per litre and reaching as high as N2,500 in some locations outside major communities and cities, was unacceptable to Nigerian workers.
It said the high cost of fuel had placed workers, their dependants and the general population under severe pressure, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to maintain normal and dignified lives.
The workers also demanded the immediate approval of a wage award to cushion the impact of the prevailing economic hardship, saying the measure would help public servants sustain their loyalty, commitment and productivity.
On the minimum wage, the council urged the Federal Government to urgently constitute a tripartite committee to commence negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.
It said the immediate constitution of the committee was necessary to prevent administrative or procedural delays that could affect the implementation of a new minimum wage after negotiations and legislative approval.
The council warned that failure by the Federal Government to address the demands on or before September 30 would leave public servants with no option but to commence a three-day warning strike from Friday, October 2.
It also urged President Tinubu to address the concerns in his Independence Day address, warning that failure to respond to the issues would attract the displeasure of workers, their dependants and other vulnerable Nigerians affected by the prevailing economic hardship.