Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, have reaffirmed their September 30, 2026 deadline to the Federal Government over the rising cost of petrol, demand for a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

The council, which comprises eight public sector unions, said it would commence a three-day warning strike from October 2 if the Federal Government fails to address its demands.

The unions are demanding that the price of petrol be reduced to N500 per litre, a wage award be announced for workers and a tripartite committee be constituted to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, the council said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct.

The council said the current petrol price, which it put at between N1,450 and N2,000 per litre and as high as N2,500 in some areas, had placed severe pressure on workers and their dependants.

It called on the Federal Government to provide an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators as part of measures to reduce the price of petrol.

The unions also urged the government to ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators at appropriate terms to increase domestic refining and help lower the cost of petroleum products.

On the wage award, the council said the government should urgently approve the measure to cushion the impact of the prevailing economic hardship on workers and vulnerable Nigerians.

It also called for the immediate establishment of a tripartite committee to commence negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

According to the council, beginning the process early would help prevent administrative or procedural delays in implementing the new wage once negotiated and passed into law.

The JNPSNC said it had mobilised public servants nationwide for the proposed three-day warning strike if the government fails to address the issues by September 30.

The council said the Federal Government’s response, including the President’s Independence Day address, should adequately address the concerns raised by Nigerian workers.

Failure to meet the demands, it warned, would lead to the commencement of the warning strike from Friday, October 2, 2026.