Public servants under Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have said they will commence a three-day warning strike on Friday, October 2, if Federal Government fails to address their demands on petrol prices and workers’ wages.
Gatekeepers News reports that the council had given the Federal Government until Wednesday, September 30, to act on its demands, which include reducing the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre and approving a wage award for workers.
In a statement issued by Gbenga Olowoyo, national secretary of the JNPSNC and general secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, the council said it had mobilised public servants for the planned industrial action if the government failed to respond to the demands.
The council also wants the Federal Government to immediately constitute a tripartite committee to commence negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027. It had proposed a minimum wage of at least N500,000 under the new salary structure.
JNPSNC said the high cost of petrol had worsened the financial pressure on workers and their families. According to the council, petrol currently sells for between N1,450 and N2,000 per litre in different locations, with prices reaching as high as N2,500 in some areas.
It called on Federal Government to consider an intervention fund to address the landing cost of petrol and support oil and gas operators as part of measures to reduce the price.
The council also urged the government to make crude oil available to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms to increase domestic refining and help lower the cost of petroleum products.
On workers’ welfare, JNPSNC demanded an immediate wage award to cushion the impact of prevailing economic conditions.
The council said the Federal Government should also establish the committee for minimum wage negotiations early enough to prevent administrative or procedural delays when a new wage is eventually negotiated and passed into law.
JNPSNC comprises eight public-sector unions, including the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
The council said failure to address the demands by September 30 would lead to the three-day warning strike beginning October 2.
