Friday, October 2, 2026 - Public service workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have declared a three-day warning strike from October 2 to 4, 2026, over what they described as worsening economic and mental hardship affecting workers and their dependants.
The council directed its national and state leaders to
mobilise workers for the industrial action, which is scheduled to commence at
midnight on Friday, October 2, and end on Sunday, October 4.
The directive was contained in a circular dated October 1,
2026, and signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga, who
urged the council’s leadership to ensure the information was disseminated to
workers across the country.
According to the circular, the decision followed the Federal
Government’s alleged failure to address requests previously submitted to
President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026.
The council stated, “Consequent upon the above, the strike
shall start with effect from midnight on Friday, 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday
October 4th, 2026.”
The circular also called on public servants in the federal,
state and local government services to participate in the strike, stressing
that the action was intended to draw attention to the difficulties facing
workers across the country.
It stated, “In the same vein, all public servants in the
services of federal, state and local governments are to join the warning strike
because an injury to one is an injury to all, most especially, all workers,
their dependants, vulnerable and hapless Nigerians are groaning terribly under
the present economic hardship.”
The council further described the situation as increasingly
difficult for workers, adding, “The economic and mental hardships are becoming
unbearable and frustrating.”
It urged its leaders to begin mobilisation immediately,
declaring, “The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning
strike is now!!!”
The planned industrial action follows the council’s earlier
demands to the Federal Government for measures to cushion the effects of rising
living costs, including a reduction in petrol prices, a wage award for workers
and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of
2027.
The JNPSNC had reportedly asked the Federal Government to
reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage
award and establish a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum
wage.
The demands come amid continuing concerns over the rising
cost of living and the purchasing power of Nigerian workers following increases
in the cost of essential goods, transportation and other household expenses.
The council concluded its circular by urging its members to
disseminate the strike notice, expressing confidence in the outcome of the
action.
“Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is
victory for us!!!” the circular added.
As of the time of the circular, the council maintained that
the strike would proceed as scheduled, with public servants across the three
tiers of government expected to participate.
Efforts to get a reaction from the Ministry of Labour failed
as of the time of filing this report.
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