By George Omagbemi
Public-sector workers across Nigeria have begun a three-day warning strike after the Federal Government failed to meet demands by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) for cheaper petrol, a wage award and negotiations for a new minimum wage.
The industrial action commenced on Friday, October 2, and is scheduled to run until Sunday, October 4, 2026, following the expiration of the workers’ September 30 deadline.
At the centre of the dispute is the workers’ demand that the Federal Government reduce the pump price of petrol to ₦500 per litre, which the council says is necessary to ease the impact of high transportation and living costs.
The JNPSNC also wants the government to approve an immediate wage award for workers and establish a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.
The council had written President Bola Tinubu on September 21, warning that failure to address the demands by September 30 would trigger the warning strike.
The decision to proceed followed the President’s October 1 Independence Day address, which did not announce the requested reduction of petrol to ₦500 per litre.
The JNPSNC has directed workers across federal, state and local government services, including ministries, departments and agencies, to comply with the action.
The strike is expected to affect public services nationwide as unions press the government for measures they say are necessary to cushion the economic pressure on workers and their families.
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