N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

The three-day public sector warning strike declared over worsening economic hardship in Nigeria has begun on a shaky note, with mixed levels of compliance reported across the country.

The action, which commenced on October 2, followed the failure of the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to reach an agreement on demands aimed at easing the pressure of rising living costs on workers.

Among the unions’ major demands are a reduction in the petrol price to N500 per litre, payment of an immediate wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.

The unions are also seeking the implementation of outstanding agreements with the government and additional measures to improve workers’ welfare amid rising food, transportation and energy costs.

However, the first day of the warning strike recorded varying levels of compliance across the country.

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In Abuja, several federal government offices remained open, with some workers reporting for duty, although attendance was reportedly lower in some locations.

The situation was different in some states, where significant compliance was recorded. Reports indicated substantial participation in Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun, while some northern states, including Gombe, recorded partial compliance.

Other locations recorded little or no disruption, underscoring the uneven nature of the industrial action on its first day.

The unions, however, disputed reports suggesting widespread non-compliance, claiming that participation was higher than figures being reported from some government offices. They put the level of compliance nationally at more than 65 per cent.

The warning strike is scheduled to run until October 4, unless the government reaches an agreement with the unions before then.

The industrial action comes against the backdrop of sustained concerns over cost of living, food prices, transportation expenses and the impact of higher petrol prices on household incomes.

For workers, the unions say the current economic conditions have significantly reduced purchasing power and require urgent intervention from the government.

The government’s response during the three-day action could determine whether the dispute is resolved through further negotiations or escalates into a more prolonged industrial confrontation.

For now, the public sector strike remains uneven across the country, with some government services continuing while workers in other areas have withdrawn their services in support of the unions’ demands.

N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike