Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have reaffirmed plans to commence a three-day warning strike from October 2 if the Federal Government fails to address their demands over petrol prices, a wage award and a new minimum wage.
The council, which comprises eight public sector unions, gave the Federal Government until September 30 to reduce the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve a wage award and begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
The unions said they had mobilised public servants nationwide for the proposed strike if the government failed to respond to the demands contained in their September 21 letter to President Bola Tinubu.
The JNPSNC comprises the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU); 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.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the NCSU, Gbenga Olowoyo, the council said the September 30 deadline remained in force.
The workers said the high cost of petrol had worsened economic hardship, with pump prices currently ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 per litre and reaching about N2,500 in some locations.
The council is demanding that the government introduce measures to bring the price down to N500 per litre, including an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.
It also urged the Federal Government to ensure that crude oil is supplied to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators on appropriate terms to increase domestic refining and reduce the cost of petroleum products.
The workers further demanded an immediate wage award to cushion the impact of rising living costs on public servants and other vulnerable Nigerians.
On the minimum wage, the council called for the urgent constitution of a tripartite committee to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.
The unions said early commencement of negotiations would help prevent administrative or procedural delays in implementing any new minimum wage agreement.
“The Federal Government should urgently establish a tripartite committee to commence and facilitate negotiations for the new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.
“The Nigerian workers’ demand for the immediate constitution of the committee is informed by the need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay that could affect the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage once it is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly,” the statement added.
The council said failure by the Federal Government to address the demands by September 30 would leave it with no option but to commence the three-day warning strike from Friday, October 2.
It also urged President Tinubu to address the issues in his Independence Day broadcast.
Discussion0