Nigerian Public Sector Unions Issue Three-Day Strike Notice

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), a coalition of eight public sector unions, issued a three-day warning strike notice to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The council set a deadline of September 30, 2026, for President Bola Tinubu to address their demands during his Independence anniversary speech.

The unions demand that the government reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit to N500 per litre, announce a wage award to mitigate economic hardship, and establish a tripartite committee to negotiate a new National Minimum Wage for 2027. The JNPSNC noted that current fuel prices, ranging from N1,450 to N2,500 per litre, have made it difficult for workers to maintain dignified lives.

To achieve lower costs, the council suggested the government provide an intervention fund for landing costs and ensure crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery and modular refineries on appropriate terms. National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga stated that the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct, asserting that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be ignored. If the demands are not met, the strike is scheduled to begin on October 2, 2026.