PUBLIC servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have reaffirmed their September 30, 2026, ultimatum to the Federal Government over the rising cost of petrol, the demand for a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
News Point Nigeria reports that the JNPSNC, comprising eight public sector unions, has issued a three-day warning strike notice to the Federal Government, scheduled to begin on October 2, should the government fail to reduce the price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce a wage award and introduce other measures to cushion the crushing economic hardship in the country.
Read also: Kano Doctors Threaten Two-Week Warning Strike Over Unmet Demands
The council said it had mobilised public servants across the country for the proposed three-day warning strike if the Federal Government failed to address the issues raised in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the expiration of the deadline.
The JNPSNC had, on September 21, written to Tinubu, demanding a reduction in the price of petrol to N500 per litre, the immediate announcement of a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage of not less than N500,000 from 2027, among other demands.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the council’s leaders warned that if the issues of fuel pump prices and the wage award were not addressed by September 30, particularly in the President’s Independence Day address, public servants nationwide would commence a three-day warning strike from October 2, 2026.
The statement, issued by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct, stressing that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be ignored.
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.
The other unions 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.
Olowoyo said the council had identified three critical issues requiring urgent attention from the Federal Government, beginning with a reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to N500 per litre.
According to the statement, “The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: reduction of fuel price to N500 per litre. The Federal Government should take urgent steps to bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N500 per litre.
“This can be achieved through the provision of an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.
Read also: FG Releases Additional ₦4.04bn To Pay 600 Former Nigeria Airways Workers
“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 litre, is unacceptable to Nigerian workers.”
The council maintained that the economic hardship caused by the high cost of fuel was placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependants and the general populace under severe pressure.
It said the situation was making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives, hence the need for urgent government intervention to ease the burden on households.
The council also called on the Federal Government to urgently approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economic conditions being experienced by workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.
“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 dependants, 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 statement said.
Reaffirming its position, the JNPSNC warned that the Federal Government’s failure to address the demands by September 30, 2026, would leave Nigerian workers with no option but to embark on the planned three-day warning strike beginning Friday, October 2.
“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.
Read also: EFCC Arrests Abuja Businessman Over Alleged $120m Fraud Involving Ukrainian Investor
“Failure to address the concerns raised, according to the Council, will attract the displeasure of Nigerian workers and their dependants, as well as other vulnerable Nigerians who continue to bear the brunt of the prevailing economic hardship,” the statement concluded.
The council’s position leaves the Federal Government with until September 30 to respond to the workers’ demands and avert the planned industrial action, which could affect public service operations nationwide.
