Public service workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have begun a three-day warning strike over worsening economic and mental hardship.
The strike runs from midnight on Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4, 2026. The council directed its national and state leaders to mobilise workers across the country for the action.
The directive came in a circular dated October 1, 2026. Olowoyo Gbenga, the council’s National Secretary, signed it. He urged union leaders to make sure the information reaches workers nationwide.
Why Workers Are Striking
According to the circular, the Federal Government failed to address demands that the council sent to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026. As a result, the council decided to begin the warning strike.
The council said the economic and mental hardship facing workers and their dependants is becoming unbearable. It added that the situation is frustrating many Nigerians.
What the Workers Want
The strike follows earlier demands for measures to ease the rising cost of living. The JNPSNC had reportedly asked the Federal Government to:
- Cut the pump price of petrol to ₦500 per litre
- Approve an immediate wage award for workers
- Set up a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027
These demands come amid growing concern over the cost of living. Prices of essential goods, transport and other household expenses have risen, while workers’ purchasing power has fallen.
Call on Public Servants to Join
The circular called on public servants in federal, state and local government services to take part. It stressed that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” In addition, it said the strike aims to draw attention to the hardship facing workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.
The council urged its leaders to begin mobilisation immediately and to spread the strike notice widely. It also expressed confidence that the action would succeed. As of the circular, the council said the strike would go ahead as scheduled across the three tiers of government.
Government Yet to React
Efforts to get a reaction from the Ministry of Labour were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
