Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have reaffirmed a September 30 deadline for the Federal Government to address demands over petrol prices, wage support and negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The council, which comprises eight public sector unions, said it would begin a three-day warning strike on October 2 if the government failed to act. Its demands include reducing petrol to N500 per litre, announcing a wage award and taking measures to ease the impact of rising living costs.
The JNPSNC had written to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, asking the government to reduce petrol prices and immediately introduce a wage award. It also demanded the commencement of negotiations for a new minimum wage of at least N500,000 from 2027.
The unions said petrol prices currently ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 per litre, and reaching N2,500 in some areas, had placed severe pressure on workers, their dependants and other Nigerians. They proposed government intervention to reduce landing costs and support domestic refiners, including access to crude oil on appropriate terms.
The council also called for an immediate wage award to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship. It said the measure would help public servants maintain productivity and cope with the rising cost of essential goods and services.
On the minimum wage, the unions urged the Federal Government to establish a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for the new wage expected to become due in 2027. They said early negotiations were necessary to prevent administrative delays that could affect implementation after the new wage is agreed and passed into law.
JNPSNC National Secretary Gbenga Olowoyo said the September 30 deadline remained firm and that workers had been mobilised nationwide. The council said failure to address its demands by the deadline would trigger the three-day warning strike from October 2.
