Public servants across Nigeria have commenced a three-day warning strike following the failure of the Federal Government to address demands by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), including a reduction in the price of petrol to N500 per litre.
Gatekeepers News reports that the industrial action began at midnight on Friday, October 2, and is scheduled to run until Sunday, October 4, 2026. The council directed workers in federal, state and local government services to participate in the strike.
JNPSNC had issued a September 30 deadline to the Federal Government, asking it to address the rising cost of petrol, approve a wage award for workers and commence negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The council said it had earlier communicated the demands to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21.
Among its major demands is a reduction of the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, to N500 per litre. The council also called for an intervention fund to address landing costs and support operators in the oil and gas sector.
It further urged the Federal Government to make crude oil available to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms to encourage increased domestic refining and help reduce the cost of petroleum products.
The workers also demanded an immediate wage award to cushion the impact of rising living costs, as well as the constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.
The JNPSNC is seeking a minimum wage of at least N500,000 under the new arrangement.
In its latest circular, signed by its national secretary, Gbenga Olowoyo, the council said the Federal Government’s failure to address the requests left it with no option but to proceed with the warning strike.
The council directed all public servants to join the action, citing worsening economic hardship affecting workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.
The development is expected to affect government operations nationwide during the three-day action, as workers across the three tiers of government have been directed to withdraw their services.
