Public sector unions declare 3-day strike over economic hardship

Public sector unions under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have directed all federal, state and local government employees nationwide, including staff of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), to begin a three-day warning strike from midnight, over the Federal Government’s failure to address their demands.

The council instructed union officials across federal, state and local government services to ensure total compliance with the industrial action, citing worsening economic and mental hardship faced by workers and other Nigerians.

Members of the JNPSNC include the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU), Medical and Health Workers Union (M&HWU), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE), Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers (NUPSRAW), National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW), and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees (NUAEE).

The strike follows the Federal Government’s failure to respond to demands outlined in a letter dated September 21, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu by the JNPSNC’s national leadership.

The council had earlier, on September 29, warned that a three-day warning strike would proceed if its demands, a reduction in petrol price to N500 per litre, a wage award, and other hardship-cushioning measures, were not addressed during Tinubu’s Independence Anniversary Address on October 1.

The JNPSNC leadership expressed disappointment that the President’s address did not meet the N500 petrol price demand or announce immediate relief measures.

The directive to proceed with the strike was contained in a circular issued by the council’s National Secretary (Trade Union side), Olowoyo Gbenga, dated October 1, 2026, titled “Declaration of three (3) day Warning Strike; action with immediate effect.”

The circular read in part: “The strike shall start with effect from midnight of Friday 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday October 4th, 2026… In the same vein, all Public Servants in the services of Federal, State and Local Governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all…

” The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating. The time to act and mobilise workers for the three days warning strike is now!!!”