Labour fulfils pledge, paralyse business activities over New National Minimum Wage

By allcitynews.ng

As nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) began on Monday 3 June 2024, business activities  were paralysed.

The industrial action began after failed negotiations with the Federal Government over an increase in the minimum wage to living wage and other pressing labour issues.

In a comprehensive and detailed account of the national strike’s impact across various states in Nigeria, highlighting the specific disruptions in different sectors and regions, the actions taken by labour unions, the response from government officials, and the broader implications for the country’s economy and daily life, all present a very gloomy picture nationwide.

Economic disruptions have spread across the states with workers in Port Harcourt airport under the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) began their blockade at 7:00 am, forcing passengers to walk to the terminal.

Although few flights remained operational, security presence was significantly heightened.

Also, in Kaduna, the strike impact seem severe as labour officials locked out students from the Kaduna Polytechnic and workers from the National Ear Care Centre and the State Secretariat, effectively shutting down governmental operations.

Not left out are financial institutions feeling the brunt as employees were denied entry to their offices.

Abuja also witnessed the strike as the Abuja offices were shut down by Labour.

ASSBIFI join the strike

In Lagos, ASSBIFI and NUBIFIE went for enforcement by storming headquarters of Banks along Inner Marina, and at Lagos Island.

According In a chat with allcitynews.ng, the President of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) Comrade Olusoji Olusola said the enforcement became imperative since the fight for the reversal of hike in electricity tariff and increment of salary is for the benefit of all Nigerians.

NUBIFIE join the strike 

Likewise, the President of NUBIFIE, Comrade Anthony Abakpa, said they are going to enforce the shut down on all banks to ensure total compliance.

Allcitynews.ng findings showed that though ASSBIFI and NUBIFIE teams have picketed the headquarters of the Banks, their branches, especially along Oba Akran have continue with their works, probably waiting and also buying time for the enforcers to reach them. With the time lag, they were able attend to their customers.

As a result, bank customers are going through stress as transfer applications have refused to work based on the enforcement of the strike.

NUR join the strike

As workers in Nigerian Railways joined in the strike, train movements were grounded while passengers are stranded.

Kaduna Trade Union Congress Chairman, Abdullahi Danfulani, emphasized that the unions would maintain their stance until the government meets their demands.

The effects of the strike were felt in Edo State, Benin City, where the NLC and TUC members shut the State Secretariat, stopping civil servants from accessing their offices despite the recent minimum wage increase to N70,000.

Lagos, the commercial arena in Nigeria, witnessed the strike with main gates to the offices in Alausa locked thereby and business activities were notably disrupted. The two main gates leading into Alausa Secretariat were locked by the unionists.

Neighbouring Ogun and Oyo states saw similar shutdowns. The Federal Secretariat in Abeokuta and the NLC Secretariat in Ibadan were locked, with teachers turning away students from schools in compliance with the strike order.

In Cross River State, public services came to a standstill, with schools, banks, and fuel stations all adhering to the strike mandate as the state’s NLC chairman criticized the FG’s hard stance on labour issues, citing a lack of realistic policies affecting workers.

PENGASSAN join the strike

In its statement, PENGASSAN stated
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL DESK OF PENGASSAN

Solidarity Greetings distinguished ZEC, BEC & CEC.
Concerning the planned withdrawal of service from all of our offices on Monday, 3rd June 2024, it is mandatory that there be strict compliance.

It is your responsibility to ensure NO ENTRY & EXIT in your offices by any of our members.

All ZECOM, BEC and CEC executives are to Wear  red or any PENGASSAN Attairs. Mount your entrances and ensure 100% compliance with the above directive.

There will be a joint task force TUC/NLC and Lagos ZECOM going around to ascertain full compliance. Any company in default will be penalized.

Moving Train! No Stopping

Comrade Juliana Adenike
PRO Lagos Zone
PENGASSAN.

ASUU Joins the Strike

At the tertiary institutions, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) joined the strike, further complicating the educational landscape.

ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke directed university lecturers to participate in solidarity with the labour unions in a move to aggravate concerns over the academic calendar, already disrupted by frequent industrial actions.

Parliamentary and Aviation Sector Disruptions

Also in the drove are members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) which, on Monday morning, blocked the National Assembly’s entrance and exit points, creating significant delays for legislative activities.

Passengers are also left stranded and facing difficulties accessing the terminal due to the blockade by striking workers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Power Grid Shutdown Intensifies the Crisis

On the height of the labour unions bickering in the shutting down of the national grid as reported by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) since around 2:19 am due to the strike.

Workers at various transmission substations were driven out, leading to a nationwide blackout. The TCN is attempting to recover and stabilize the grid but faces ongoing obstructions from the Labour union.

Aviation Unions also join the strike

Aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), have also joined in the strike. As a result, air travellers were stranded as only few flights landed without any one leaving the country.

Genesis of the issue at stake

Despite three meetings with the FG tripartite, executives of the National Assembly and other stakeholders, labour unions, labour unions say the strike will continue to disrupt daily life and economic activities across Nigeria, as the government’s next steps remain crucial.

Insisting the national action goes on and a living wage is possible, the union, on its X page writes: “We don’t have the right to call off the industrial action approved by our organs. Thus, the action will continue while we will have a meeting with our organs to relate to them your proposals.” as it told the leaders of the National Assembly on Sunday evening during their meeting that ended stalemated till the dead of the night.

They also expressed their wonder at the inability of the government to resolve the wage dispute and address labour concerns over the years, and which has led to significant social and economic fallout.

The unions said that on their part, there are no signs of backing down, and until the government yields to their demands, the country will continue to face prolonged industrial disharmony unless a compromise is reached.

NUPENG joins the strike

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has joined strike.

This decision, communicated through a circular dated June 1st, 2024, and signed by Comrade Afolabi Olawole, the Secretary General of the Union noted that the union joined the strike.

The directive, addressed to all NUPENG branches and members, urges immediate compliance with the NLC’s call for a nationwide strike.

Expressing concern over the FG’s handling of living wage negotiations, the circular highlights the need for collective action to address the challenges faced by Nigerian workers.

“As a Union, we are deeply concerned and disturbed with the insensitive and irresponsive attitude of the FG to the very critical issue of negotiating a new reasonable wage for Nigerian workers,” the circular states.

With this directive, NUPENG signals its readiness to halt all operations related to oil and gas installations, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products.

The Union emphasizes its unwavering solidarity with the NLC and calls on leaders at all levels to ensure full compliance with the strike directive.

“Our solidarity remains constant for the Union makes us strong,” the circular concludes, echoing the resolve of NUPENG to stand united with fellow workers in pursuit of fair labor practices and just wages.

NUEE also join the strike

The leadership of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has joined in the strike.

According to statement “IN RESPECT OF THE INDEFINITE NATIONWIDE STRIKE OVER THE INCONCLUSIVE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE NEGOTIATION AND REFUSAL TO REVERSE HIKE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF

We are aware of the TCN propaganda to deliberately incite the public on the National grid’s shutdown.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a press release dated 31st May 2024 and a circular to all its affiliates same day on the commencement of indefinite nationwide strike over the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and pass into Law a new National Minimum Wage Act and the refusal to reverse the vexatious hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is an affiliate of the NLC and we are carrying out the directive of the Congress on the withdrawal of services according to the 31st May 2024 circular and Press Release.

All affiliates of the NLC and TUC obeyed the directives to withdraw services until all those issues are sorted out. Consequently, the union joined the action of withdrawing services and we are perplexed with the action of the TCN management. This begs us to understand if the TCN management is indifferent and happy with the suffering of the poor masses’ meager minimum wage of N35,000 compared to the currently over 200% cost of living in the country.

TCN management should focus on improving the transmission network and reducing frequent national grid collapses rather than meddling in the affairs of the Union and NLC.

This is a clarion call for the union to participate in the emancipation of the down-trodden Nigerians by fighting for a living wage and against discriminatory tariff hikes in the electricity sector to ensure that Nigerians deserve the right to accessible and affordable electricity services.

Furthermore, we are informed that TCN management has invited military personnel to intimidate and beat up our members at various TCN locations who are fighting against the plight of poor Nigerians. This is to warn TCN management that any of our members who are harassed, intimidated, or beaten up the military personnel will not be tolerated.

Aluta Continua!!!

Igwebike Dominic
Ag. General Secretary.

MWUN join the strike

Likewise the workers in maritime industry joined the strike

In its statement by President.General, read:

The Maritime Workers Union Union of Nigeria (MWUN) under the leadership of Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju, fnli, HFCPSP, has obliged to comply with the directive of both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to join in the indefinite total lock down of the country commencing from Monday, the 3rd of June, 2024.

The indefinite nationwide strike has become very imperative, given the failure of the Federal Government on the logjam and the inconclusive national minimum wage negotiation and refusal to reverse the hard biting hike in electricity tariff.

In view of the foregoing, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has directed its members in all ports nationwide, jetties, terminals, oil & gas platforms to effectively ensure the total compliance of the strke as directed by the NLC and TUC. This is also to serve as notice to all our concerned stakeholders in the Maritime sector.

E-Signed
Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, MWUN.

COURIER Union join the strike

In their statement, the union said,

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