Public servants threaten Oct 2 strike over fuel price
Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have threatened a three-day nationwide warning strike from October 2 if the Federal Government fails to address their demands on fuel prices, wage awards and negotiations for a new minimum wage.
The council, which represents eight public-sector unions, gave the Federal Government until September 30 to respond to its demands, saying failure to act by the deadline would trigger the strike.
Abimbola Joseph
Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have threatened a three-day nationwide warning strike from October 2 if the Federal Government fails to address their demands on fuel prices, wage awards and negotiations for a new minimum wage.
The council, which represents eight public-sector unions, gave the Federal Government until September 30 to respond to its demands, saying failure to act by the deadline would trigger the strike.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has backed the unions’ position, warning that the hardship affecting public-sector workers is being felt across the wider population.
The JNPSNC had written President Bola Tinubu on September 21, demanding urgent measures to reduce the cost of petrol, approve a wage award for workers and begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The council wants the Federal Government to reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre. It proposed an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators as one way of achieving the reduction.
It also called for the government to ensure that crude oil is supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refineries on appropriate terms to encourage domestic refining and help reduce the cost of petroleum products.
The council said petrol prices currently range from N1,450 to N2,000 per litre, while prices in some locations outside major cities could reach N2,500.
It argued that the rising cost of fuel had increased the financial pressure on workers, their dependants and other Nigerians.
On wages, the JNPSNC urged the Federal Government to approve an immediate wage award to cushion the impact of rising living costs.
The council also demanded the urgent constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.
It said starting the process early would prevent administrative delays that could affect the implementation of a new wage agreement once negotiations are concluded and the necessary legislation is passed.
The council’s National Secretary and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the September 30 deadline remained firm.
He said failure to address the demands would leave public servants with no option but to begin the three-day warning strike on October 2.
The council also urged President Tinubu to address the issues in his Independence Day broadcast, saying the concerns could no longer be ignored.
Meanwhile, the NLC expressed support for the public-sector unions.
The NLC Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, said the hardship confronting public servants was also affecting private-sector workers, state employees and people in the informal economy.
He said the labour centre expected the Federal Government to introduce immediate measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel and cooking gas prices.
Onyeka also criticised the delay in constituting a National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, describing the process as urgent given current economic conditions.
He said the NLC supported lawful actions by public-sector unions over fuel prices, wage awards and the proposed new minimum wage.
Onyeka warned that failure to address the concerns could escalate into a wider national strike involving workers across sectors.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain an official response from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
However, a ministry source said the matter was being handled by the appropriate government authorities, although the source declined to speak officially on the issue.
