By Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, Sept 30, 2026
ABUJA — Activities across government offices and public institutions nationwide may grind to a halt on Friday as federal public servants under the umbrella of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) prepare to embark on a three-day warning strike.
The threat follows what the council described as the Federal Government’s failure to address key economic grievances, notably the sharp increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, and the delayed negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
Ultimatum Remains Sacrosanct
Speaking via a statement issued on Tuesday, the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo, stated that the September 30 ultimatum previously served to the authorities remains sacrosanct.
Olowoyo emphasized that organized public sector labor will not back down unless the government takes immediate action to reduce petrol prices to a maximum of N500 per litre and approves an interim wage award to cushion the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers.
”The September 30 ultimatum given to the Federal Government to address the rising cost of petrol and kickstart negotiations for a realistic national minimum wage stands firm. Should the government fail to act before the deadline, public service workers will commence a three-day nationwide warning strike on Friday,” Olowoyo declared.
The impending industrial action stems from escalating economic pressures on Nigerian workers following the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the Naira.
Subsidy Removal Impact: Since the removal of the fuel subsidy, pump prices have surged significantly nationwide, triggering a ripple effect that has sent food prices, transportation costs, and general inflation soaring.
Wage Negotiations: Organized labor has consistently demanded a living wage and temporary palliatives—termed “wage awards”—to bridge the gap while long-term minimum wage negotiations are finalized.
Worker Discontent: Civil servants argue that current income levels have been completely eroded by inflation, making it nearly impossible for many workers to commute to their official duties daily.
If the Federal Government fails to reach a compromise before Friday, key administrative services across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) across the nation will be severely disrupted.
