Nigerian public service workers have formally declared a three-day warning strike beginning Friday, October 2, over worsening economic conditions and growing financial and mental hardship among workers and their dependants.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) directed its national and state leadership to mobilise public servants across the country for the industrial action, which will commence at midnight on Friday and end on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Politics Nigeria reports that the directive was contained in a circular dated October 1 and signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Gbenga Olowoyo.
The council said the decision followed the Federal Government’s failure to respond to demands contained in a letter it sent to President Bola Tinubu on September 21. The workers had given the government until September 30 to address their concerns, warning that failure to act would trigger the three-day warning strike.
“Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight of Friday, 2nd October, 2026, to Sunday, October 4th, 2026,” the circular stated.
The council directed public servants in the federal, state and local government services to participate in the action, saying the hardship was affecting workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.
“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,” it said.
The JNPSNC said the economic situation had become increasingly difficult, describing the prevailing conditions as “unbearable and frustrating.”
“The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating,” the council said.
It subsequently ordered its leaders to commence immediate mobilisation for the industrial action.
“The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!” it declared.
The strike is centred on three major demands earlier presented to the Federal Government: a reduction in the price of petrol to N500 per litre, an immediate wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
In its September 29 statement, the council said the prevailing petrol price, which it put at between N1,450 and N2,000 per litre, and as high as N2,500 in some areas outside major cities, was placing severe pressure on workers.
It called on the government to provide an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators, while also ensuring that crude oil was sold to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms to increase domestic refining.
On the wage award, the council said the government should approve immediate financial relief for workers to cushion the impact of prevailing economic conditions.
It also demanded the urgent constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.
According to the council, beginning the process early would help prevent administrative or procedural delays in implementing any new minimum wage eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly.
The JNPSNC had warned that the September 30 deadline was “sacrosanct,” urging the government to address the demands, including through the president’s Independence Day address.
However, the council’s October 1 circular confirmed that the warning strike would proceed.
The JNPSNC comprises eight public sector unions, including 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.
The council urged its leaders to ensure that the strike notice reached workers nationwide.
