Public servants under di Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, yesterday threaten say dem go begin national strike from October 2 if di Federal Government no answer di demand inside di President Independence Day broadcast tomorrow.
Di Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, don also throw im weight behind di public servants threat.
Recall say di workers had on September 30, 2026, issue ultimatum to di Federal Government over di rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, demand for wage award and di commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
Dem had earlier on September 21 write President Bola Tinubu stating their demands.
Di JNPSNC, wey be eight public sector unions, yesterday issue three-day warning strike notice should government fail to slash di price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce wage award and introduce other measures to cushion di effects of crushing hardship for di country.
Members of di JNPSNC include di Nigerian Civil Service Union, NCSU; Medical and Health Workers Union, M&HWU; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN; and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM.
Others na di Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, AUPCTRE; Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers, NUPSRAW; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers, NUPPPPROW; and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, NUAEE.
Di council talk say e don mobilise public servants across di country for di warning strike if di federal government fail to address di issues wey dem raise inside dia letter to President Bola Tinubu before di deadline.
Inside statement, leaders of di JNPSNC warn say if dem no address di issues of fuel pump prices and di wage award by September 30, especially during di Independence anniversary speech by President Bola Tinubu, public servants nationwide go commence three-day warning strike beginning October 2, 2026.
Di statement wey di National Secretary of di JNPSNC and General Secretary of di Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga, issue talk say di September 30 deadline remain sacrosanct, stressing say di concerns of Nigerian workers no fit continue to dey ignored.
He talk say one of di three critical issues wey need urgent attention na reduction of fuel price to N500 per litre, and di Federal Government suppose take urgent steps reduce di price of PMS to N500 per litre.
He talk say dis fit happen through provision of intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.
E also talk say e important for di federal government to ensure di sale of crude oil to di Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries at appropriate terms, to facilitate increased domestic refining and help bring down di price of petroleum products.
Di council talk say di current price of PMS, wey dey range from N1,450 to N2,000 and for some locations outside major communities and cities as high as N2,500 per litre, no acceptable to Nigerian workers.
Di council maintain say di economic hardship wey high cost of fuel cause dey place di survival of Nigerian workers, dia dependents and di general populace under severe pressure, making am increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives.
On wage award, di council talk say di Federal Government suppose urgently approve wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion di effects of di harsh economic conditions wey workers, dia dependants and vulnerable Nigerians dey experience.
Di council believe say urgent action on dis demand go further enable public servants consolidate dia loyalty, commitment and productivity inside di public service ecosystem.
On minimum wage committee, di council talk say di Federal Government suppose urgently establish Tripartite Committee to commence and facilitate negotiations for di new national minimum wage wey expected to become due in 2027.
Di council talk say di Nigerian workers demand for immediate constitution of di committee come from need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay wey fit affect implementation of di new national minimum wage once dem eventually negotiate and pass am into law by di National Assembly.
Consequently, di council state say failure by di Federal Government to take necessary steps to address di issues on or before September 30, 2026, go leave Nigerian workers with no option but to commence three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, October 2, 2026, to press home dia demands.
E talk say e imperative to state clearly say di Independence Day address of di President of di Federal Republic of Nigeria suppose adequately address dis critical issues.
Di council talk say failure to address di concerns go attract di displeasure of Nigerian workers and dia dependents, as well as other vulnerable Nigerians wey continue to bear di brunt of di prevailing economic hardship.
Di Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, also yesterday declare im total support for di position of JNPSNC, lamenting say di hardship for di country don bad well well.
Speaking to Vanguard on di issues, Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Chris Onyeka, talk say dem dey in support of di actions wey di public sector unions dey take, and most of dem na dia affiliates.
He talk say di situation for di country don become so bad, and wetin public sector workers dey go through and feel na wetin other Nigerians, whether private-sector workers, state workers, or informal-sector workers, dey also feel and experience.
He talk say dat na why dem surprise say government never roll out immediate cushioning measures to mitigate di suffering, hardship and pain across di country, wey recent hike in pump prices of fuel, especially petrol and cooking gas, worsen.
He talk say dem expect government to show more concern about di hardships wey Nigerians dey experience, and say di fact say government never do anything about di high cost of fuel up till now dey very disappointing and shocking.
He talk say e equally worrying say government never respond to NLC letter requesting constitution of a National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to commence negotiations for a new minimum wage, when everybody know say dis dey imperative and urgent, given di socioeconomic realities of today.
He talk say e common knowledge say di value of di N70,000 minimum wage don already dey eroded by inflation, even before its implementation begin.
He talk say dem dey fully behind every legal and legitimate action by di public sector unions on di issues of fuel prices, wage awards, and a new minimum wage.
He talk say if dem no meet di demands of di public sector unions as quickly as possible, e fit snowball into national strike involving all workers.
He talk say dem dey advise government to address dia demands and ensure say any measures wey dem take reflect di needs and realities of all Nigerians, especially di masses.
However, efforts to reach officials of di Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity no succeed at di time of dis report.
But a source for di ministry claim say di appropriate government officials dey handle di issue.
Di source talk say though di letter by di public sector unions, through di JNPSNC, address to President Bola Tinubu, he can tell say di appropriate authorities dey handle di issue, and dat na all he can talk because he no dey in position to speak for di ministry.
