Nigeria’s public servants have issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government, threatening a total nationwide strike if their demands are not addressed in the coming weeks.
Drivetvnews gathered that the warning followed the conclusion of a three-day industrial action declared by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, which ended on Sunday.
The council claimed the strike recorded about 65 per cent compliance nationwide, with full participation reported in Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Osun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Gombe states, while other states recorded varying levels of compliance.
JNPSNC National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the warning strike was organised to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the challenges confronting public servants and compel urgent engagement.
According to him, the next industrial action could be a total strike, with stronger support from other stakeholders within the labour movement if the government fails to respond.
Gbenga said the council had already commenced strategic meetings to mobilise and sensitise public servants ahead of the next phase of the struggle.
The council listed three major demands: a reduction in petrol prices, a review of salaries and allowances for public servants, and the immediate establishment of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for the 2027 National Minimum Wage.
JNPSNC urged the Federal Government to use the period following the warning strike to engage labour leaders and resolve the issues before they escalate into another nationwide industrial action.
The council also warned that the government should take seriously the level of public concern generated by the strike and act proactively to prevent further industrial unrest.
