Public sector workers across Nigeria will commence a three-day warning strike from midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, following the Federal Government’s failure to address demands by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.
The strike, which runs through Sunday, October 4, will affect employees of federal, state and local governments, including ministries, departments and agencies.
The JNPSNC announced the action in a circular dated October 1 and signed by its National Secretary, Trade Union side, Olowoyo Gbenga.
The council said the strike followed the expiration of its September 30 deadline for the government to respond to a September 21 letter to President Bola Tinubu.
Its key demands are a reduction of petrol to N500 per litre, an immediate wage award and the establishment of a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The unions had on September 29 warned that failure to address the petrol price and wage award demands by September 30 would trigger the strike. They had also expected President Tinubu’s October 1 Independence Day address to offer relief.
With no resolution announced, the JNPSNC proceeded with the planned action.
The council said high petrol prices had pushed up transportation costs and deepened pressure on workers and households. It wants measures to reduce fuel costs, including interventions on landing expenses and arrangements for crude supply to the Dangote Refinery and modular refineries.
It is also seeking an immediate wage award and early commencement of negotiations for the 2027 minimum wage.
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The JNPSNC comprises eight public-sector unions, including the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
The development comes as the Nigeria Labour Congress renews its call for economic relief.
In its Independence Day statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero demanded cheaper petrol, a nationwide wage award and negotiations for a new minimum wage, citing inflation and rising transportation costs.
The congress also called for the implementation of tax-relief measures agreed with the government in October 2023, greater transparency in public spending and a reduction in governance costs.
The latest dispute echoes the October 2023 confrontation that followed the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The Federal Government and organised labour reached a 16-point agreement on October 2, 2023, averting an indefinite strike.
The pact included a N35,000 monthly wage award for federal workers, measures to ease transportation costs and a commitment to begin work towards a new minimum wage.
The implementation of some provisions later became contentious, leading to renewed labour-government tensions in 2024.
The latest warning strike now puts petrol prices, wage relief and the 2027 minimum wage back at the centre of the labour dispute.