Just-In: Workers Declare 3-Day Strike From Friday Over Soaring Fuel Prices

Nigerian public servants in the services of federal, state and local governments have been directed to withdraw their services from midnight on Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4, 2026 over unmet demands presented to the federal government.

Giving the directive on Thursday, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) in a circular obtained by LEADERSHIP said the three-day nationwide warning strike followed the failure of the federal government to address its demands contained in a letter sent to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, 2026.

In its September 21 letter to President Tinubu, the council formally placed its demands before the presidency and subsequently maintained that the government’s response would determine whether the planned warning strike would proceed.

Among its demands were the stabilisation of petrol prices at N500 per litre, an immediate wage award for workers at the federal, state and local government levels, upward review of salaries and allowances, and the immediate constitution of a committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage ahead of January 2027.

The council, in a circular signed by its national secretary, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga said the warning strike was in line with an earlier position by its national leadership that the action would commence immediately if the government failed to respond to its requests

The development is expected to disrupt public services nationwide as the council directed all public servants to participate in the industrial action, citing worsening economic conditions and the hardship confronting workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.

The council declared that the strike would begin at midnight on Friday and run through Sunday, October 4, urging workers to mobilise fully for the action.

The circular reads, “The three day warning strike earlier scheduled shall commence immediately.

Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight of Friday 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday October 4th, 2026.”

“In the same vein, all public servants in the services of federal , state and local governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all.

Most especially all workers, their dependants, vulnerable and hapless Nigerians are groaning terribly under the present economic hardship.

“The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating. The time to act and mobilise workers for the three days warning strike is now!!!”