Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have reaffirmed a Sept. 30 deadline for the Federal Government to address their demands over the rising cost of petrol, a wage award and negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The council, which comprises eight public sector unions, said workers would begin a three-day warning strike on Oct. 2 if the government fails to meet the demands.
The unions are asking the Federal Government to reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce an immediate wage award to cushion the impact of rising living costs and begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
In a statement Tuesday, the National Secretary of the council and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, said the Sept. 30 deadline remained unchanged.
The council said it had mobilised public servants nationwide for the warning strike if the government failed to address the issues before the deadline, including in President Bola Tinubu's Independence Day address.
The unions said petrol prices currently ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 per litre, and reaching as high as N2,500 in some locations, were placing severe pressure on workers and their dependants.
They proposed that the government provide an intervention fund to address fuel landing costs and support oil and gas operators.
The council also called for the Federal Government to ensure crude oil is supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refineries on appropriate terms to boost domestic refining and help reduce petroleum prices.
On the wage award, the unions said immediate government action was needed to cushion workers and other vulnerable Nigerians against prevailing economic hardship.
They also called for the urgent establishment of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.
The council said early negotiations were necessary to avoid administrative or procedural delays that could affect implementation once a new wage is agreed and passed into law.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council comprises the Nigerian Civil Service Union; Medical and Health Workers Union; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria; National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives; and four other public sector unions.
The council said failure to address the demands by Sept. 30 would leave workers with “no option” but to commence the three-day warning strike from Friday, Oct. 2.
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