Public service workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have declared a three-day nationwide warning strike starting from October 2 to 4, 2026. The council cited worsening economic and mental hardship affecting workers and their dependants as reasons for the strike.
The council directed its national and state leadership to mobilise public servants for the industrial action, which commenced at midnight on Friday, October 2, and is scheduled to end on Sunday, October 4.
The directive was contained in a circular dated October 1 and signed by the JNPSNC National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga.
According to the circular, the decision followed the Federal Government’s alleged failure to respond to requests submitted to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21.
The council said the strike would involve public servants across the federal, state and local governments, including workers in ministries, departments and agencies. It described the prevailing economic and mental hardship as increasingly difficult for workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.
The workers’ demands reportedly include a reduction in petrol prices to N500 per litre, an immediate wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage before 2027.
The development followed an earlier warning by the council that industrial action would commence if the Federal Government failed to address its demands. The council subsequently said President Tinubu’s October 1 Independence Day address did not address the issues it had raised.
The warning strike is expected to affect public services across the country, although the action is scheduled to end on Sunday, October 4. Several reports confirmed that the directive covers workers at all three tiers of government.
