Workers are spoiling for war, as public servants under the wing of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have started a three-day warning strike over the failure of the federal government to tackle their persisting demands.
The strike notice was documented in a circular issued on Thursday by national secretary of JNPSNC and general secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) Gbenga Olowoyo, to the national presidents and general secretaries, state chairmen and secretaries of affiliate unions of the JNPSNC.
In the circular entitled “Declaration of three day Warning Strike; action with immediate effect”, JNPSNC directed the unions to secure complete compliance with the strike declaration.
JESNews reports that the union had on Tuesday sent out to proceed on the industrial action if the federal government failed to cut the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol to N500 and approve a new wage package for workers.
Olowoyo, in a statement, did say the September 30 ultimatum they earlier gave to the government to tackle the rising cost of petrol and begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage remained sacrosanct.
He sstated that the council had mobilised workers to embark on the industrial action should President Bola Tinubu fail to announce a drastic cut in petrol price and a new national minimum wage in his Independence Day speech.
Olowoyo stated that the council had on September 21 dispatched a letter to the president in which it made three demands, comprising the start of negotiations for a minimum wage of at least N500,000 from 2027 and reduction of fuel price to N500 per litre, among others.
In the latest circular on Thursday, Olowoyo said the failure of Tinubu to respond to the demands had left the unions with no other alternative than to commence with the industrial action until Sunday.
“Please, recall the position of the National leadership of JNPSNC that if Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Tinubu refuses to address our requests as contained in the letter to his exalted office (dated September 21, 2026), the three day warning strike earlier scheduled shall commence immediately,” the circular reads.
“Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight of Friday, October 2, 2026, to Sunday, October 4, 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. Please, disseminate the information. Surely, there is victory for us.”
