By Samuel Olusegun Precious
Public servants at federal, state and local government levels have commenced a three-day nationwide warning strike from Friday, October 2, 2026.
The industrial action was declared by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), comprising eight public service unions, including the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
In a circular signed on Thursday by its National Secretary, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga, the council directed all workers in ministries, departments and agencies to withdraw services from midnight Friday till Sunday, October 4.
The council said the strike follows the Federal Government’s failure to respond to demands submitted to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026.
According to the unions, workers are demanding: Reduction of petrol pump price to N500 per litre; Immediate wage award for public servants; Upward review of salaries and allowances; Establishment of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The JNPSNC said the hardship facing workers and their dependents has reached a critical stage, citing soaring cost of living since fuel subsidy removal and rising pump prices now at N1,450 to over N2,000 per litre.
NLC President Joe Ajaero said the labour movement is backing the warning strike to press the government to ease economic pressures.
The strike is expected to affect government services nationwide, with partial shutdown of ministries and public institutions depending on compliance level.
Meanwhile, scrap dealers under the National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) have also commenced a separate 15-day nationwide warning strike from October 1 over alleged price manipulation by steel companies.
