The national secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Gbenga Olowoyo, has warned that public service workers will embark on a total strike if the government fails to address their demands within one to two weeks.
Recall that public sector unions under the aegis of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) recently embarked on a three-day warning strike from October 2 to 4, 2026, over rising fuel prices, workers’ welfare and unmet demands. The unions are seeking a reduction in petrol prices to ₦500 per litre, improved salaries and allowances, as well as the immediate constitution of a committee to negotiate the next minimum wage.
The warning strike came after the unions said the government had failed to respond adequately to their demands. President Bola Tinubu’s October 1 Independence Day address also did not directly address the unions’ specific demands, including the proposed reduction in petrol prices, prompting the JNPSNC to warn of a total and more extensive strike if the government fails to act.
In an interview on Arise News on Monday, Olowoyo said the three-day warning strike had achieved its purpose, recording about 65 per cent compliance nationwide, and reiterated that public service workers would embark on a total strike if the government failed to address their demands within one to two weeks.
“The essence of that strike—because it was a warning strike—was to create awareness and provoke reactions from certain quarters, and it achieved its purpose. Even reports now show that the strike had 65% compliance, across all states of the federation. By that, we received popular reactions by way of commendation to the leadership.
“First and foremost, the speech of Mr. President did not directly attend to our request. It is on the basis of that that the leadership reviewed the actions of the warning strike and reviewed the speech of Mr. President. That is why we are now saying that the second leg of the strike will be total and extensive.”
He added that the unions were receiving indications that the government might invite them for discussions, although no official invitation had been received, stressing that the workers would proceed with a total strike if nothing was done within one to two weeks.
“We are receiving feelers. The body language of the government shows that they may invite us, but we have not received any official invitation. The feeler is that they are putting things together. We are looking up to that, but if nothing is done within one to two weeks’ time, then we go on a total strike,” he maintained.
Outlining the unions’ demands, Olowoyo said they were seeking a reduction in the current petrol price to ₦200 per litre, a review of salaries and allowances, and the immediate constitution of a tripartite committee to discuss the next minimum wage.
“Number one, the current price of fuel is biting seriously, and government should crash it. We proposed N200, and we stand by that. Then we talk about the issue of review of salaries and allowances, which I think will be able to mitigate all the problems workers are facing. We have recorded no less than—in fact, in the last two days after the last time I mentioned that figure—it’s close to 3,000 now that workers have committed suicide and died of depression. We take records from all the states of the federation. Government should urgently address this issue and see how they can review salaries and allowances so that we can address this issue of depression.
“Thirdly, the issue of the tripartite committee. The committee is to discuss the issue of minimum wage, because we are aware that it is a product of law. But at the same time, can government say they are going to set up the committee next year? No, we will not accept that. We are so passionate about our demands.”
Responding to concerns that higher wages could be eroded by inflation and rising living costs, Olowoyo said the unions’ proposals would be subject to detailed consideration by the tripartite committee, which would weigh the relevant economic variables before reaching a decision.
“The economist may come up with his own hypothetical analysis which might not have been verified by practical application. A template will be presented, which we have done, until when we sit in committee. The committee will weigh many variables.
“That is why we are talking about government coming in with an intervention fund to address this issue of fuel. There is no way you can be encouraging foreign currency over the Nigerian Naira. Our leaders take joy in spending dollars over Naira, and that is why our Naira is not valued anywhere.”
On the value of the naira, Olowoyo argued that the government should reduce its reliance on the dollar, noting that Nigeria’s dependence on foreign currencies for crude oil transactions, imports and other inputs continued to put pressure on the naira.
“Do you know the best way you can fight for the value of the Naira is for government to downplay the emphasis on dollars? We have crude oil in Nigeria, and government is selling crude oil to our refineries in dollars. Most of the inputs to bring products to a refined state are paid in dollars. Most of the things we use in Nigeria are imported. You cannot import these things in Naira; you have to import in dollars or pounds sterling.”
Favour Odima
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