Public Servants Set October 2 Warning Strike Over Fuel Price, Demands Fuel prices be reduced to N500 per litre

Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have reaffirmed their September 30, 2026, deadline to the Federal Government over the rising cost of petrol, wage award and negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

The council, comprising eight public sector unions, said it would commence a three-day nationwide warning strike from Friday, October 2, if the government fails to address its demands.

The unions are demanding that petrol prices be reduced to N500 per litre, an immediate wage award for workers and the urgent constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 29, by JNPSNC National Secretary and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, the council said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct.

The council described current petrol prices, reportedly ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 per litre and reaching N2,500 in some areas, as unacceptable, saying the high cost of fuel had placed severe pressure on workers, their dependants and the wider population.

It urged the Federal Government to provide an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators, while ensuring crude is supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refineries on appropriate terms to boost domestic refining.

The workers also called for a wage award to cushion the impact of the economic hardship and urged the government to begin minimum-wage negotiations early to prevent delays in implementation.

The JNPSNC warned that failure to act by September 30 would leave public servants with “no option” but to embark on the three-day warning strike from October 2. It also said President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address should adequately address the issues.

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