By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Public service workers across the federal, state and local governments have been urged to join a three-day warning strike, with their union leaders declaring that “an injury to one is an injury to all,” over what they described as worsening economic and mental hardship.
The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) declared the strike in a circular dated Thursday, 1 October, 2026, signed by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga. The action is to begin at midnight on Friday, 2 October, and end on Sunday, 4 October, 2026.
The council directed its national and state leaders to mobilise workers for the industrial action and to ensure that the information was disseminated to workers across the country.
According to the circular, the decision followed the Federal Government’s alleged failure to address requests submitted to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026.
“Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight of Friday, 2nd October, 2026, to Sunday, October 4th, 2026,” the council stated.
The circular also called on all public servants in the federal, state and local government services to take part, stressing that the action was meant to draw attention to the difficulties facing workers across the country.
“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, most especially, all workers, their dependants, vulnerable and hapless Nigerians are groaning terribly under the present economic hardship,” it said.
The council further described the situation as increasingly difficult for workers. “The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating,” it added.
It urged its leaders to begin mobilisation immediately. “The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!” the circular declared.
The strike follows earlier demands the council made to the Federal Government for measures to cushion the effects of rising living costs.
The JNPSNC had reportedly asked the government to reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award, and establish a tripartite committee to begin negotiations on a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The demands come amid concerns over the rising cost of living and the declining purchasing power of Nigerian workers, following increases in the prices of essential goods, transportation and other household expenses.
The council ended the circular by urging its members to circulate the strike notice, and it expressed confidence in the outcome of the action. “Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is victory for us!!!” the circular added.
As of the time of the circular, the council maintained that the strike would proceed as scheduled, with public servants across the three tiers of government expected to participate.
