Public servants want cheaper petrol by Wednesday. Otherwise they strike Friday.

Public servants want petrol at ₦500 a litre at the pump. Dangote Refinery's reported gate price is ₦1,325. That is what marketers pay, not what motorists pay.

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side, has threatened a three-day warning strike from Friday 2 October. It gave the Federal Government until Wednesday 30 September to respond to three demands. The demands are in a letter to President Tinubu that Vanguard reported on 22 September, when the Nigeria Labour Congress backed them. Monday's statement added the strike threat. The first is a ₦500 pump price. The second is a wage award. The third is a committee to start negotiating the new national minimum wage due in 2027.

Olowoyo Gbenga issued the statement on Monday. He is the council's national secretary and the general secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union. The council says petrol is being sold at ₦1,450, ₦2,000 and ₦2,500 in many places outside major cities. It called those prices unacceptable.

The ₦1,325 gate price is ₦160 above where it stood in late August. The refinery raised it four times, from ₦1,165 to ₦1,350 by 12 September. Then, according to market surveys reported by several outlets, it cut it by ₦25 on 21 September, as Brent crude fell below $100.

At the pump, Legit.ng reported on Monday that NNPCL had cut some Lagos outlets from ₦1,385 to ₦1,370. Some Abuja outlets moved from ₦1,430 to ₦1,405, while others were still at ₦1,395 to ₦1,430.

Brent is now back above $106 as US and Iran talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz have stalled. In mid-February it was below $68. Legit.ng reports that depot owners could face pressure to raise petrol prices again. No new Dangote price had been announced by Monday evening.

The council proposes an intervention fund to cover landing costs and support oil and gas operators, plus crude supply to Dangote Refinery and modular refineries. That is a demand, not a government programme. Its statement does not say what the fund would cost or who would pay.

On 19 September, before the council's letter was reported, Tinubu wrote that the answer "cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime". He said the country should accelerate cheaper alternatives built at home, and put CNG conversions at more than 120,000 vehicles.

The council wants its answer in the Independence Day address. The president is expected to deliver the traditional Independence Day broadcast on 1 October, Blueprint reports.

Wednesday is the deadline. Thursday is the broadcast. Friday is the strike date.