By Mary Onyia
Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have threatened a three-day warning strike starting October 2 if the federal government fails to address their concerns over rising petrol prices, wage relief, and the start of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The council, comprising eight public-sector unions, said its September 30 ultimatum to the government remained in force. It demanded a reduction in the petrol pump price to N500 per liter, an immediate wage award, and the commencement of negotiations for a new minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.
A statement issued by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct, stressing that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be ignored.
The workers said they expected President Bola Tinubu to address the issues in his October 1 Independence Day broadcast, warning that failure to take concrete steps would leave them with no option but to begin the three-day industrial action on Friday, October 2. The Nigeria Labour Congress has also backed the position of sector unions.JNPSNC said the demand for early commencement of minimum-wage negotiations was intended to prevent administrative delays before the current wage structure expires. It also said urgent measures were needed to cushion the impact of rising living costs and restore workers’ purchasing power.