Public servants in Nigeria have threatened to begin a three-day warning strike on Friday, 2 October, if the Federal Government fails to address their demands for a reduction in petrol prices and an immediate wage award.
The warning was issued by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), which represents eight public-sector unions.
The council is demanding that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, be reduced to N500 per litre and that the government approve a wage award to cushion workers against rising living costs.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, JNPSNC National Secretary Gbenga Olowoyo, who is also General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, said the council’s September 30 deadline remained unchanged.
The unions had earlier written to President Bola Tinubu, calling for urgent measures to ease the economic pressure on workers and their families. They also want the Federal Government to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027. (Punch Newspapers)
The council said the current cost of petrol, which it said ranges from about N1,450 to N2,000 per litre in many locations and can reach N2,500 in some areas, was placing additional pressure on workers and the wider population. (Punch Newspapers)
It has proposed measures including government intervention to reduce the cost of petrol and improved access to crude oil for domestic refineries, saying these could help bring down the price of petroleum products.
The JNPSNC also wants the government to urgently establish a tripartite committee to begin negotiations on a new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027. (Punch Newspapers)
The council warned that failure to address its demands by the September 30 deadline would trigger the three-day warning strike from Friday.
The proposed industrial action comes amid continuing concerns over the cost of living, particularly the impact of fuel prices on transportation, food and household expenses.
