Nigerian public servants announce three-day warning strike over hardship

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has declared a three-day warning strike by public servants across Nigeria from October 2 to 4, 2026, citing worsening economic and mental hardship affecting workers and their dependants. A circular dated October 1 and signed by the council’s National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, directed national and state leaders to mobilise workers for the industrial action. The strike is scheduled to begin at midnight on Friday and end on Sunday.

The council called on employees in the federal, state and local government services to participate. It said the action was intended to draw attention to the difficulties facing workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians. According to the circular, the decision followed what the council described as the Federal Government’s failure to address requests submitted to President Bola Tinubu in a September 21 letter.

The demands include measures to reduce the effect of rising living costs. The council had asked the government to reduce the petrol pump price to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award for workers and begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027. It said economic and mental hardship had become increasingly difficult to bear.

The planned action comes amid concerns over the cost of essential goods, transport and other household expenses. The council urged its leaders to disseminate the strike notice and mobilise members immediately. As of the time of the report, the council maintained that the strike would proceed as scheduled.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Labour were unsuccessful.