Public Servants Begin Three-Day Warning Strike Over Petrol Price, Wage Demands

Public servants across Nigeria have commenced a three-day warning strike after the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) said the Federal Government failed to address their demands on petrol prices, workers’ wages and negotiations for a new minimum wage.
The industrial action began at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, and is scheduled to run until Sunday, October 4. The JNPSNC directed public servants in federal, state and local government services to participate in the strike. TheCable
The directive was contained in a circular issued by Gbenga Olowoyo, national secretary of the JNPSNC and general secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union. It was addressed to national and state leaders of unions affiliated with the council. TheCable
The workers had earlier given the Federal Government a September 30 deadline to respond to their demands. These include reducing the price of petrol to N500 per litre, approving a wage award and beginning negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027. TheCable
Olowoyo said the council had written to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, outlining the demands. The JNPSNC also called for the establishment of a tripartite committee to begin discussions on the new minimum wage. TheCable
The council said the failure of the government to address the issues prompted it to proceed with the warning strike. It directed union leaders to mobilise workers across the three tiers of government and ensure compliance with the action. TheCable
The JNPSNC said the strike was driven by concerns over the economic pressure facing workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians. The council had argued that high petrol costs were placing additional pressure on household finances and called for urgent measures to reduce the burden. TheCable
The warning strike is scheduled to end on Sunday, October 4. The council’s demands include a reduction in petrol prices, a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage from 2027. Blueprint Newspapers Limited