Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have threatened a three-day nationwide warning strike from October 2 if the Federal Government fails to address their demands over rising fuel prices, wage awards and a new minimum wage.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed the position of the public sector unions, warning that the dispute could escalate into a broader national strike if the government fails to act.
The JNPSNC, which comprises eight public sector unions, had given the Federal Government a September 30 deadline to respond to its demands.
The council is asking the government to reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, introduce a wage award to cushion the impact of rising living costs and urgently constitute a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.
In a statement by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, the council said the current petrol price, which it said ranges from N1,450 to N2,500 per litre in some locations, had placed severe pressure on workers and their families.
The council also urged the Federal Government to provide an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators, while ensuring that crude is supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refineries on appropriate terms to encourage increased domestic refining.
On the wage award, the unions said immediate financial relief was necessary to cushion workers and vulnerable Nigerians against prevailing economic pressures.
They also called for the immediate constitution of a new National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, arguing that early negotiations would prevent delays in implementing a new wage regime when the current arrangement becomes due.
The council said failure by the government to address the demands by September 30 would trigger the three-day warning strike beginning Friday, October 2.
The NLC, through its Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, expressed support for the public sector unions, saying workers across the public, private and informal sectors were facing similar economic pressures.
Onyeka said the labour centre was particularly concerned about the rising cost of petrol and cooking gas and the absence of immediate measures to cushion the impact on Nigerians.
He also said the NLC was awaiting the government’s response to its request for the constitution of a committee to begin negotiations for a new minimum wage.
Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment could not be reached for comment.
However, a ministry source said the matter was being handled by the appropriate government authorities.