Nationwide Strike Looms As Workers Fix Date Over Fuel Price, Wage Award

Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have reaffirmed their September 30 deadline to the Federal Government, warning that they will embark on a three-day nationwide strike beginning Friday, October 2, 2026, if their demands are not addressed.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the council is demanding a reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to N500 per litre, an immediate wage award for workers and the establishment of a tripartite committee to commence negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.

The JNPSNC, which comprises eight public sector unions, had written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 21, outlining its demands and proposing a minimum wage of at least N500,000 from 2027.

In a statement, the National Secretary of the council and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, said the September 30 deadline remained in force.

Olowoyo urged the Federal Government to address the issues of fuel prices and the wage award in the President’s Independence Day address, warning that failure to do so would trigger the proposed three-day warning strike from October 2.

The council argued that the high cost of petrol was placing additional financial pressure on workers and other Nigerians. It called on the Federal Government to take measures that would bring down the price of PMS, including providing intervention funding to address landing costs and supporting oil and gas operators.

The workers also urged the government to ensure that crude oil is made available to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms to encourage domestic refining and reduce the cost of petroleum products.

On wages, the JNPSNC called for an immediate wage award to cushion the impact of prevailing economic conditions on workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.

The council also demanded the immediate constitution of a committee to begin discussions on the next national minimum wage, saying early negotiations would help prevent administrative or procedural delays when a new wage is eventually agreed upon and passed into law.

The JNPSNC warned that failure by the Federal Government to respond to its demands by September 30 would leave its members with no option but to commence the three-day warning strike on October 2.

The unions involved in the council include the 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 are 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.