By Sabiu Abdullahi
Public service workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have commenced a three-day warning strike over what the council described as worsening economic and mental hardship affecting workers and their dependants.
The industrial action began at midnight on Friday, October 2, and is scheduled to end on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The council directed its national and state leadership to mobilise workers across the country for the strike through a circular dated October 1 and signed by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga.
The decision, according to the council, followed the Federal Government’s alleged failure to respond to demands contained in a letter submitted to President Bola Tinubu on 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.”
It directed public servants across the federal, state and local government services to participate in the action.
The council 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 labour body said the difficulties facing workers had reached an increasingly critical level.
It added, “The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating.”
The council also instructed its leaders to commence mobilisation for the industrial action immediately.
“The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!” it declared.
The strike follows earlier demands by the JNPSNC for measures to reduce the impact of rising living costs on workers. Among the demands were a reduction in petrol prices, an immediate wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The council had called for the pump price of petrol to be reduced to N500 per litre and urged the Federal Government to approve a wage award for workers. It also demanded the establishment of a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage.
The demands come amid concerns over the rising prices of food, transportation and other essential goods, which have affected the purchasing power of workers and their families.
The council urged its members to ensure that the strike notice reached workers across the country and expressed confidence in the outcome of the industrial action.
“Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is victory for us!!!” the circular added.
As of the time of the notice, the council maintained that the strike would proceed as scheduled, with workers in the three tiers of government expected to participate.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Labour were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.
