Public servants across Nigeria have begun a three-day warning strike from October 2 to 4, in response to the worsening economic hardship, high petrol prices, and demands for a new national minimum wage. The strike was called by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), which represents workers in federal, state, and local government services. The council's National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, signed a circular on October 1, 2026, directing workers to participate in the industrial action.
The JNPSNC's decision to embark on the strike followed the Federal Government's failure to address its demands, as outlined in a letter sent to President Bola Tinubu on September 21. One of the council's major demands is a reduction in the pump price of petrol to ₦500 per litre, to ease the financial pressure on workers and other Nigerians. The council argued that rising transportation costs and the prices of essential goods have continued to undermine workers' purchasing power.
The public service workers are also demanding an immediate wage award to cushion the effects of prevailing economic hardship on employees, their dependants, and vulnerable Nigerians. The council described the financial strain as increasingly difficult for workers to bear, warning that urgent intervention was necessary to improve their living conditions. The situation has been described as one in which "the economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating."
Another major demand is the immediate establishment of a tripartite committee to commence negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027. The council said early negotiations would help prevent administrative delays and ensure that the process of reviewing workers' earnings begins in good time. The JNPSNC had previously called for negotiations towards a new minimum wage of not less than ₦500,000.
The council directed public servants across the three tiers of government to participate in the planned action, describing it as a collective response to the economic difficulties confronting workers and their families. The warning strike would proceed following the expiration of the JNPSNC's September 30 deadline without the desired response to its demands.
The development comes amid continuing concerns over the cost of living, particularly rising transportation expenses, food prices, and other household costs. The council expressed confidence in the planned action and urged its members to disseminate the strike notice across their respective workplaces and branches.
The strike is expected to have significant implications for public services across Nigeria, as workers in federal, state, and local government services participate in the industrial action. The JNPSNC's move is seen as a test of the Federal Government's commitment to addressing the economic challenges facing workers and Nigerians at large.
Key points
- The strike is over economic hardship, high petrol prices, and demands for a new national minimum wage.
- The JNPSNC represents workers in federal, state, and local government services.
- The strike is set to last for three days, from October 2 to 4.
