Public servants begin strike Oct. 2 over petrol price, wage award

Nigerian public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have reaffirmed plans to begin a three-day warning strike on Oct. 2 unless the Federal Government addresses their demands on petrol prices, a wage award and negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

The council, comprising eight public-sector unions, had given the Federal Government until Sept. 30 to reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N500 per litre, approve a wage award and begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage of not less than N500,000 from 2027.

It said members had been mobilised nationwide for the warning strike following a letter sent to President Bola Tinubu on Sept. 21 outlining the demands.

In a statement by its National Secretary and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, the council said the Sept. 30 deadline remained sacrosanct.

It said the high cost of petrol had placed severe pressure on workers, their dependants and the wider population, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to cope with the prevailing economic hardship.

The council also demanded an immediate wage award for public servants to cushion the impact of rising living costs and enable workers to remain productive.

It called for the urgent constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027, arguing that an early start would prevent administrative or procedural delays in its eventual implementation.

According to the council, the Federal Government’s response to the demands by the Sept. 30 deadline would determine whether the industrial action would proceed.

It also urged President Tinubu to use his Independence Day address to respond to the issues raised by workers.

The council claimed that the price of petrol currently ranged between N1,450 and N2,000 per litre and could rise to N2,500 in some locations outside major cities.

It proposed an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators, as well as appropriate crude supply terms for the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators to boost domestic refining and reduce petroleum product prices.

“The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: reduction of fuel price to N500 per litre. The Federal Government should take urgent steps to bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit to N500 per litre.

“This can be achieved through the provision of an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.

“It is equally important for the Federal Government to ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries at appropriate terms to facilitate increased domestic refining and help bring down the price of petroleum products,” Olowoyo said.

On the wage award, the council said: “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.”

On minimum wage negotiations, it added: “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 failure by the government to act by Sept. 30 would leave workers with “no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, to press home their demands.”

It added: “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.”

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