Tension In Nigeria As complete Lock Down Over Hunger Looms
OpenLife News reports that Nigeria is on the brink of a complete lockdown as a twin crisis looms in critical sectors of the economy, with aviation, health and public service workers threatening a coordinated shutdown from October 2 over high fuel prices and worsening hardship.
Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, yesterday threatened to embark on a nationwide strike should the Federal Government fail to address their demands in President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast tomorrow.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has thrown its weight behind the planned action, warning that it could snowball into a full national strike, while threats from aviation and health sector operators have raised fears of a total paralysis of airports, hospitals and government offices.
Recall that the workers had on September 30, 2026, issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government over the rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, demand for a wage award and commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage, after earlier writing President Tinubu on September 21.
The JNPSNC, made up of eight public sector unions, issued a three-day warning strike notice should government fail to slash petrol price to N500 per litre, announce a wage award and introduce other palliatives.
Members of the JNPSNC are the Nigerian Civil Service Union, NCSU; Medical and Health Workers Union, M&HWU; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN; National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM; Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, AUPCTRE; Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers, NUPSRAW; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers, NUPPPPROW; and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, NUAEE.
In a statement by its National Secretary and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga, the Council said it has mobilised public servants nationwide and that the September 30 deadline remains sacrosanct.
The Council listed three critical issues:
Reduction of Fuel Price to N500 per litre
The Federal Government should provide an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators, and ensure sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and modular refineries on appropriate terms to facilitate increased domestic refining.
“The current price of PMS, ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 and, in some locations outside major communities and cities, as high as N2,500 per litre, is unacceptable to Nigerian workers.
“The economic hardship occasioned by the high cost of fuel is placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependents and the general populace under severe pressure,” it said.
Wage Award
The Federal Government should urgently approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of prevailing harsh economic conditions.
Minimum Wage Committee
The Federal Government should urgently establish a Tripartite Committee to commence negotiations for the new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027, to avoid administrative delay in implementation after passage by the National Assembly.
“Failure by the Federal Government to take necessary steps to address these issues on or before September 30, 2026, will leave Nigerian workers with no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, October 2, 2026,” the Council stated, adding that the President’s Independence Day address must adequately address the concerns.
The tension is further heightened by discontent in the aviation and health sectors, where operators have also threatened shutdowns.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, had earlier condemned picketing of airlines and warned of loss of investor confidence, while health sector unions, who are also affiliates of the JNPSNC, have indicated readiness to withdraw services if demands are not met.
Speaking in support of the public servants, Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Chris Onyeka, said: “We are in support of the actions being taken by the public sector unions. Most of them are our affiliates.
“The situation in the country has become so bad. What public sector workers are going through is what other Nigerians are also feeling.
“That is why we are surprised that the government has not rolled out immediate cushioning measures. The fact that government has not done anything about the high cost of fuel up till now is very disappointing and shocking.
“It is common knowledge that the value of the N70,000 minimum wage had already been eroded by inflation, even before its implementation began.
“If the demands are not met as quickly as possible, it may snowball into a national strike involving all workers.”
Efforts to reach officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity were unsuccessful, but a source in the ministry said appropriate authorities are handling the issue.
With the October 2 deadline approaching, and with aviation, health and public service sectors all threatening to down tools at the same time, the country faces the prospect of a twin crisis that could lead to a complete lockdown.
About Author
