Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have reaffirmed plans to embark on a three-day warning strike from October 2, 2026, if the Federal Government fails to address their demands over the rising cost of petrol and worsening economic hardship.

The council, comprising eight public sector unions, gave the Federal Government until Wednesday, September 30, to take concrete steps on its demands, including reducing the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, to N500 per litre, approving a wage award for workers and commencing negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.

The position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo.

The unions warned that failure to meet the deadline would leave them with no option but to mobilise public servants nationwide for the three-day industrial action beginning Friday, October 2.

The JNPSNC is made up of the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers, National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers, and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees.

The council had earlier written to President Bola Tinubu on September 21, demanding urgent intervention to reduce the price of petrol to N500 per litre, introduce a wage award and begin negotiations for a minimum wage of not less than N500,000 from 2027.

According to the unions, the prevailing petrol price, which they said ranges between N1,450 and N2,000 per litre and could rise to about N2,500 in some locations outside major cities, had placed an enormous burden on workers and their dependants.

The council proposed that the Federal Government consider an intervention fund to address petrol landing costs and support operators in the oil and gas sector.

It also called for crude oil to be supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms to encourage increased domestic refining and potentially reduce the cost of petroleum products.

The workers further demanded an immediate wage award to cushion the impact of the prevailing economic difficulties.

They argued that such an intervention would help public servants cope with rising living costs while sustaining their commitment and productivity in the public service.

On the minimum wage, the JNPSNC urged the Federal Government to urgently constitute a tripartite committee involving relevant stakeholders to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.

The council said the early constitution of the committee was necessary to prevent administrative or procedural delays that could affect the implementation of the new wage once negotiations were concluded and the necessary legislation enacted.

The unions also urged the President to address the issues in his Independence Day address, warning that failure to respond to their demands by the September 30 deadline would trigger the planned three-day warning strike.

The proposed action could affect public services nationwide if implemented, with the unions maintaining that the economic difficulties confronting workers and vulnerable Nigerians required urgent government intervention.