Niger Federal Civil Servants Join 3-Day Warning Strike

Federal civil servants in Niger State have joined the three-day nationwide warning strike by public servants, with most federal agencies in Minna reportedly closed on Friday.

The strike, which commenced on Friday, October 2, is scheduled to run until Sunday, October 4. The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council had directed workers across the federal, state and local government services to participate in the action.

However, some federal workers in Niger State questioned the effectiveness of commencing the strike on a Friday, arguing that the timing could reduce its impact.

A federal civil servant, Suleiman Keke, said the strike’s commencement on Friday, which is traditionally a half working day, might not have the desired effect.

According to him, Monday would have been a more effective day to begin the industrial action.

He said the Friday-to-Sunday timing would give the government the weekend to strategise and potentially counter the strike.

“For now, many federal civil servants in the state are observing the strike. Most federal agencies in Minna are closed,” he said.

The nationwide warning strike followed the failure of the Federal Government to address demands by the JNPSNC, including measures to cushion the effects of economic hardship.

Details later.