NIGERIA: Public servants have issued a fresh ultimatum to the Federal Government following the end of their three-day warning strike, warning that failure to address their grievances could trigger a total nationwide strike in the coming weeks.
The warning strike, declared by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), ended on Sunday after disrupting public services in several parts of the country, reports Vanguard.
The council said the action recorded about 65 per cent compliance nationwide, with full compliance reported in Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Osun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Gombe states, while partial compliance was recorded in other states.
The National Secretary of JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the strike was aimed at drawing the Federal Government’s attention to the concerns of public servants and compelling urgent engagement with labour leaders.
He said the action had generated significant public discourse and received the support of the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, led by Joe Ajaero.
According to Gbenga, the outcome of the warning strike should prompt the Federal Government to immediately engage the JNPSNC leadership, warning that the next industrial action would be a total strike backed by broader solidarity from stakeholders in the labour movement.
“Consequent upon the outcome of the warning strike, it is advisable to the Federal Government to use the period of the lull in action to engage the National leadership of JNPSNC because the next strike action will be a total strike and there will be a strong alliance and solidarity with stakeholders in Labour movement parlance,” he said.
He disclosed that strategic meetings had commenced to mobilise and sensitise public servants across the country ahead of the next phase of the struggle.
The council reiterated three major demands: a reduction in fuel prices, a review of salaries and allowances for public servants, and the establishment of a tripartite committee to negotiate the 2027 New National Minimum Wage.
“The National leadership of JNPSNC wants to reiterate the commitment of millions of Public Servants in Nigeria to the above listed three demands without doubt,” Gbenga said.
The council urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the lull following the warning strike to open discussions with labour leaders and resolve the issues before they escalate into another nationwide shutdown.
It also warned the government to take note of the level of awareness generated by the three-day action and act proactively to prevent what it described as spontaneous reactions from the public.
