Civil servants have warned that a further civil servants strike could be declared if the Federal Government fails to address their concerns over welfare, salaries, fuel prices and taxation. The warning came after public workers completed a three-day nationwide warning strike on Sunday, October 4, following growing concerns about the pressure that rising living costs have placed on their earnings.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has now urged the government to use the period after the warning strike to engage its leadership and address the demands raised by workers. The council warned that failure to make progress could lead to a total strike in the coming weeks, increasing pressure on the government to reopen discussions with labour representatives.
The latest development has also drawn attention to the wider economic difficulties faced by government workers, many of whom say their salaries no longer provide the same purchasing power because the prices of food, transportation and other essential goods have continued to rise.
Civil Servants Strike Follows Growing Welfare Concerns
The three-day warning strike was organised after the government failed to meet several demands presented by the JNPSNC. The council had previously called for a reduction in petrol prices, an immediate wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The warning action began on October 2 and involved public servants under the federal, state and local government services. The council directed its affiliated unions to mobilise their members for the action after its September 30 deadline passed without the response it wanted from the Federal Government.
According to JNPSNC National Secretary Gbenga Olowoyo, the warning strike recorded about 65 per cent compliance nationwide, although the level of participation differed across states. He said full compliance was recorded in Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Osun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Gombe, while other states recorded partial compliance.
The council has now started meetings to sensitise public servants across the country about its next steps. Olowoyo said workers could face another round of industrial action if the government failed to respond to their concerns, although no indefinite strike has been officially declared at this stage.
The situation has also highlighted concerns about the effect of PAYE deductions on workers’ monthly income. Some civil servants have called for an immediate review of the amount deducted from their salaries, arguing that high deductions have further reduced their ability to cope with rising prices.
Workers Demand Fuel Relief and New Wage Talks
Fuel prices remain one of the major issues behind the dispute, with the JNPSNC demanding a reduction and stabilisation of petrol prices to ease transportation costs and other expenses faced by workers.
Before the warning strike began, the council specifically demanded that petrol prices be reduced to N500 per litre and that the government approve a wage award to cushion workers against the effects of the current economic conditions. It also called for negotiations on a new national minimum wage that would take effect in 2027.
The demand for new wage negotiations has become another major part of the dispute because workers argue that their existing earnings have not kept pace with the rising cost of basic goods and services. The council has therefore called for the immediate constitution of a tripartite committee that would bring government, labour and other relevant representatives together to begin discussions on the proposed 2027 minimum wage.
Meanwhile, concerns over taxation have added another dimension to the dispute. Civil servants have complained that PAYE deductions consume a significant portion of their monthly salaries, leaving them with less money to meet household expenses. Some workers have also argued that they face additional taxes when they purchase goods and services, further increasing their financial burden.
The Federal Government has separately begun a six-week review of Nigeria’s tax reforms, with the exercise expected to examine areas such as multiple taxation, value-added tax thresholds and other implementation concerns. The Finance Ministry said recommendations from the review would feed into the Finance Bill 2027.
For now, the JNPSNC has stopped short of declaring an indefinite strike, but its latest warning means the dispute remains unresolved. Government workers are waiting for concrete action on their demands, while the council is preparing its members for possible further action if negotiations fail.
The coming weeks could therefore determine whether the latest warning leads to renewed discussions between labour and the government or another nationwide disruption of public services.
