By Victor Ahiuma-Young
Nigeria’s public servants have issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government following the end of a three-day warning strike, declaring that failure to address their grievances could trigger a more extensive industrial action in the coming weeks.
The warning strike, called by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, ended on Sunday after disrupting public services in several parts of the country.
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.
According to the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga, the warning strike was intended to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the concerns of public servants and press for urgent engagement.
He said, “The three-day warning strike has provoked public discourse and the general public described the declaration of the warning strike as a popular decision taken by the National leadership of JNPSNC.
“The warning strike enjoyed the total support from the National leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who threw his explicit weight behind the three-day warning strike.
“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.
“Appropriate strategic meetings have commenced in earnest to ensure that Public Servants across the country are sensitized towards the next struggle ahead within the next few weeks.
“The demands of Public Servants remained unambiguous: The federal government should slash the astronomical fuel prices, the Federal Government should review salaries and allowances to Public Servants and the Federal Government should set up a tripartite committee for 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.
“The Federal Government should take cognisance of the consciousness the three strike has attracted and be proactive to prevent spontaneous reactions from the publics.”
The council urged the Federal Government to use the period following the warning strike to open discussions with labour leaders and address the issues before they escalate into another nationwide industrial action.
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