The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has renewed its ultimatum to the federal government on the hike in the price of petrol, the demand for a salary award and the initiation of talks for a new national minimum wage on September 30, 2026.
The JNPSNC, a coalition of eight public sector unions, issued the warning strike notice to the federal government, with effect from October 2, if the government fails to reduce the price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce a wage award and take other measures to ease the crushing hardship in the country, reports The PUNCH.
JNPSNC members are Nigerian Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
Others include the 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.
It said it had organised public personnel throughout the country for a three-day warning strike should the federal government fail to address the issues mentioned in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the deadline.
Recall that the JNPSNC had, on September 21, written to Tinubu, requesting among other things, that the price of petrol be lowered to N500, the immediate announcement of a wage award and the beginning of negotiations for not less than N500,000 minimum wage from 2027.
The leaders of the JNPSNC, in a statement yesterday Tuesday 29th September 2926 warned that if the concerns on the fuel pump prices and the wage award are not addressed by 30th September especially during the president’s Independence anniversary speech, public servants across the country would embark on a three-day warning strike starting from October 2, 2026.
The National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, stated in a statement, “the September 30 deadline remains sacrosanct and the concerns of Nigerian workers can no longer be ignored. Geographic Reference
He said that the three burning issues that needed urgent attention were: decrease of fuel price to N500 per litre. The federal government must act urgently to bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N500 per litre.
This is accomplished by providing an intervention fund to cover landing expenses and to support oil and gas producers.
“It is also important that the federal government ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries on appropriate terms to enable increased domestic refining and help bring down the price of petroleum products.
“The current price of PMS between N1,450 and N2, 000 and in some places outside major communities and cities as high as N2, 500 per litre is not acceptable to Nigerian workers.
The council said the economic hardship caused by the high cost of petroleum was severely pressuring the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependants and the general people, making it difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives. Reference: Geographical
“The federal government should as a matter of urgency approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to alleviate the effects of the harsh economic conditions being experienced by workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.
The council feels that immediate action will further help public servants solidify their loyalty, commitment and productivity within the public service ecosystem.
Minimum wage commission
The workers called for the federal government to immediately constitute a committee that will facilitate the discussions for the new minimum wage.
The federal government should promptly constitute a tripartite committee to initiate and encourage discussions for the new national minimum wage due in 2027.
The Nigerian workers’ demand for the immediate constitution of the committee is borne out of the need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay that would affect the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage once it is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly,” the statement further added.
Warnstreik
“Consequently, the council says that if the Federal Government fails to take the necessary steps to address these issues on or before 30th September 2026, Nigerian workers will have no option than to begin a three-day warning strike from Friday, 2nd October 2026 to push their demands.
It is important to say clearly that these vital issues ought to be properly addressed in the Independence Day address of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Geographic Reference
The Council said that failure to address the concerns presented, will attract the wrath of Nigerian workers and their dependants as well as other vulnerable Nigerians who continue to suffer the burden of the existing economic hardship.”
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