Public servants represented by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have restated their September 30, 2026, ultimatum to the Federal Government concerning the increasing price of petrol, the call for a wage award, and the start of talks on a new national minimum wage.
The JNPSNC, which comprises eight public sector unions, has served the Federal Government a three-day warning strike notice set to begin October 2 if the government does not reduce the petrol price to N500 per litre, declare a wage award, and roll out other steps to ease the severe hardship gripping the country.
The JNPSNC’s membership includes the Nigerian Civil Service Union; the Medical and Health Workers Union; the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria; and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
The remaining members are the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees; the Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors, and Allied Workers; the National Union of Printing, Publishing, and Paper Products Workers; and the National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees.
The council stated that it had mobilized public servants nationwide for a three-day warning strike should the Federal Government fail to resolve the matters raised in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the deadline.
It will be recalled that on September 21, the JNPSNC wrote to Tinubu, asking that the petrol price be cut to N500, that a wage award be announced without delay, and that negotiations begin for a minimum wage of not less than N500,000 from 2027, among other demands.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2926, JNPSNC leaders cautioned that if the issues of fuel pump prices and the wage award were not resolved by September 30, particularly during the President’s Independence anniversary speech, public servants across the nation would begin a three-day warning strike starting October 2, 2026.
The statement, released by the JNPSNC National Secretary and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, maintained that the September 30 deadline was still sacrosanct, emphasizing that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be disregarded.
According to him, “The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: reduction of fuel price to N500 per liter. The Federal Government should take urgent steps to bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N500 per liter.
“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.
“The current price of PMS, ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 and, in some locations outside major communities and cities, as high as N2,500 per liter, is unacceptable to Nigerian workers.
“The council maintains that the economic hardship occasioned by the high cost of fuel is placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependents, and the general populace under severe pressure, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives.
“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 dependents, and vulnerable Nigerians.
“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.”
The workers called on the federal government to promptly set up a committee that would ease negotiations regarding the new minimum wage.
“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 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 added.
“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 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.
“Failure to address the concerns raised, according to the Council, will attract the displeasure of Nigerian workers and their dependents, as well as other vulnerable Nigerians who continue to bear the brunt of the prevailing economic hardship,” the statement concluded.
