Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, have reaffirmed their ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning that they will commence a three-day warning strike from Friday, October 2, 2026, if their demands on petrol prices, wage relief and a new national minimum wage are not addressed.
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The council, which comprises eight public-sector unions, said its September 30 deadline remains sacrosanct and that workers across the country have already been mobilised for the proposed industrial action.
At the centre of the dispute are three demands: a reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit to ₦500 per litre, an immediate wage award to cushion prevailing economic hardship, and the constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.
The JNPSNC had written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 21, asking the Federal Government to intervene urgently over what it described as worsening economic conditions facing workers and their dependants.
In a statement issued by its National Secretary, Gbenga Olowoyo, who is also General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, the council warned that failure to take concrete action by September 30 would leave public servants with no option but to embark on the warning strike.
“The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: reduction of fuel price to ₦500 per litre. The Federal Government should take urgent steps to bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to ₦500 per litre,” the council said.
According to the JNPSNC, one way of achieving a lower petrol price would be through an intervention fund aimed at reducing landing-cost pressures and supporting operators in the oil and gas industry.
It also urged the Federal Government to ensure that crude oil is supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms in order to increase domestic refining and reduce the price of petroleum products.
The council said the current petrol prices being paid in different parts of the country had become unbearable for workers.
It claimed that PMS was selling between ₦1,450 and ₦2,000 per litre in some locations, and as high as ₦2,500 in areas outside major communities and cities, describing such prices as unacceptable. Those figures are the council’s own assessment of prevailing prices.
“The council maintains that the economic hardship occasioned by the high cost of fuel is placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependants and the general populace under severe pressure, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives,” it said.
The workers also demanded an immediate wage award from the Federal Government to cushion the impact of rising living costs.
“The Federal Government should urgently approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economic conditions being experienced by workers, their dependants, and vulnerable Nigerians,” the council stated.
It argued that such an intervention would help sustain the commitment and productivity of workers in the public service.
“The council believes that urgent action on this demand will further enable public servants to consolidate their loyalty, commitment and productivity within the public service ecosystem,” it added.
The third major demand concerns the next national minimum wage.
The JNPSNC wants the Federal Government to immediately constitute a tripartite committee to begin negotiations ahead of the new minimum wage expected in 2027.
“The Federal Government should urgently establish a tripartite committee to commence and facilitate negotiations for the new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027,” the council said.
The workers said beginning the negotiations early would prevent administrative and legislative delays when the new wage is eventually due for implementation.
“The Nigerian workers’ demand for the immediate constitution of the committee is informed by the need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay that could affect the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage once it is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly,” the statement said.
Earlier reports on the September 21 letter said the public servants were pressing for a new national minimum wage of not less than ₦500,000, alongside the ₦500-per-litre petrol demand. The Nigeria Labour Congress subsequently expressed support for the call for a ₦500,000 minimum wage and the reduction of petrol to ₦500 per litre.
The JNPSNC warned that the Federal Government’s response by the September 30 deadline would determine whether the strike proceeds.
“Consequently, the council states that failure by the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to address these issues on or before 30th September 2026 will leave Nigerian workers with no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, 2nd October 2026, to press home their demands,” it stated.
The council also specifically called on President Tinubu to use his October 1 Independence Day address to respond to the grievances raised by public servants.
“It is imperative to state clearly that the Independence Day address of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should adequately address these critical issues,” the council said.
It warned that failure to respond would deepen dissatisfaction among workers, their families and other Nigerians affected by current economic pressures.
The proposed strike would involve workers represented by the eight unions under the JNPSNC.
They are the Nigeria Civil Service Union; Medical and Health Workers Union; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria; National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives; 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 Federal Workers Forum has also publicly backed the ₦500 petrol demand and called on federal workers to prepare for industrial action if labour leaders proceed with the strike.
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