Public servants, under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, yesterday threatened to embark on national strike, with effect from October 2, should the Federal Government fail to respond to the demand in the President’s Independence Day broadcast tomorrow.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has also thrown its weight behind the public servants’ thret.
Recall that the workers had on September 30, 2026, issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government over the rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, demand for a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
They had earlier on September 21, written President Bola Tinubu stating their demands.
The JNPSNC, made up of eight public sector unions, yesterday issued the three-day warning strike notice should government fail to slash the price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce a wage award and introduce other measures to cushion effects of crushing hardship in the country.
Members of the JNPSNC include the Nigerian Civil Service Union, NCSU; Medical and Health Workers Union, M&HWU; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN; and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM.
Others are the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, AUPCTRE; Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers, NUPSRAW; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers, NUPPPPROW; and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, NUAEE.
The council said it had mobilised public servants across the country for the warning strike if the federal government failed to address the issues raised in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the deadline.
In a statement leaders of the JNPSNC warned that should the issues of fuel pump prices and the wage award are not address by September 30, especially during the Independence anniversary speech by President Bola Tinubu, public servants nationwide would commence a three-day warning strike beginning October 2, 2026.
The statement issued by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct, stressing that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be ignored.
He said: “The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: Reduction of Fuel Price to N500 per Litre. The Federal Government should take urgent steps reduce the price of PMS to N500 per litre.
“This can be achieved through the provision of an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.
“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, in order to facilitate increased domestic refining and help bring down the price of petroleum products.
“The current price of PMS, ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 and, in some locations outside major communities and cities, as high as N2,500 per litre, is unacceptable to Nigerian workers.
“The council maintains that the economic hardship occasioned by the high cost of fuel is placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependents and the general populace under severe pressure, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives.
Vanguard news
