Workers Begin Three-Day Warning Strike across Nigeria on Friday as public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) demand action from the Federal Government over the rising cost of petrol, wage awards and negotiations for a new national minimum wage. The warning strike began at midnight on October 2 and is scheduled to continue until Sunday, October 4.
The industrial action affects workers in federal, state and local government services, including employees working in ministries, departments and agencies. The JNPSNC directed its affiliated unions and public servants to comply with the strike after the government failed to address the concerns raised by the council before its September 30 deadline.
The decision followed a letter sent to President Bola Tinubu by the council on September 21, in which several measures were requested to reduce the pressure being experienced by workers and other Nigerians. The council had warned that failure to receive a response by the deadline would lead to the three-day warning strike.
Workers Begin Three-Day Warning Strike Over Petrol Prices
One of the major issues behind the industrial action is the price of petrol, which the JNPSNC wants reduced to ₦500 per litre. The council has argued that the high cost of petrol has increased transportation expenses and contributed to the wider financial pressure faced by workers, their dependants and other Nigerians.
According to the council, petrol prices in different parts of the country have remained significantly above the ₦500 level being demanded, with prices varying depending on location. The JNPSNC has therefore called for measures that could reduce the cost of petroleum products and provide relief for households dealing with higher transportation and living expenses.
The council has also called for crude oil to be supplied to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries on appropriate terms. It said greater domestic refining could help increase the availability of petroleum products and support efforts to bring down prices.
The demand has been made amid broader concerns about the cost of living, as increases in transportation, food and other household expenses continue to affect workers. The Nigeria Labour Congress also called for lower petrol prices and a wage award in its Independence Day statement, linking the demands to concerns about workers’ purchasing power.
Wage Award and New Minimum Wage Demands
Another major demand behind the strike is the immediate approval of a wage award for Nigerian workers. The JNPSNC wants the measure to provide temporary financial relief as workers deal with the rising cost of basic goods and services.
The council has also requested the establishment of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027. The demand is intended to allow discussions to begin early enough for the next wage framework to be negotiated and considered through the required process.
The current national minimum wage is ₦70,000. The JNPSNC has called for negotiations on a new minimum wage of at least ₦500,000 from 2027, although any new wage would have to go through negotiations and the relevant legal process before implementation.
The strike therefore covers both immediate and longer-term concerns, with workers seeking short-term financial relief through a wage award while also asking for a new framework to be negotiated for the national minimum wage.
Public Services Could Be Affected
The three-day warning strike covers federal, state and local government workers, meaning activities in government ministries, departments and agencies could be disrupted during the period of the action. The council has instructed its affiliated unions and leadership structures to mobilise workers and ensure compliance with the directive.
Punch listed the strike among the major stories making headlines on October 2, reporting that public service workers had already commenced the industrial action. The newspaper also reported that the strike was connected to concerns about worsening economic and mental hardship among workers and their dependants.
The warning strike follows several days of pressure from public-sector unions, after the JNPSNC first issued its demands and set September 30 as the deadline for government action. The council had expected the President’s Independence Day address to contain measures addressing the issues raised, but the requested relief was not announced.
With the strike now underway, attention will remain on possible discussions between labour representatives and the Federal Government before the action ends on October 4. The outcome of those discussions could determine whether the warning strike remains a three-day action or leads to further steps by the unions if their demands are not addressed.