Nationwide blackout, fuel scarcity loom, as labour mobilises for strike

• Oil, electricity, maritime workers, others to join action
• Kaduna NLC orders total compliance, strict monitoring
• PWDS accuse labour of making selfish demands

There are indications that Nigerians will experience nationwide blackout and fuel scarcity from Monday when the organised labour comprising members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) embark on their indefinite nationwide strike.

It was also gathered that the nation’s seaports, schools and hospitals, among other government entities, would be under lock and key as all affiliates of both trade unions have commenced the mobilisation of their members to ensure total compliance with the planned strike.

In a notice to all affiliates of the trade unions about the strike, yesterday, General Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said it was declared due to the failure of the Federal Government to agree on a new national minimum wage and subsequently pass it into law despite being notified on May Day that workers would down tools if that doesn’t happen before the end of May.

He said that the strike was also a result of the government’s failure to reverse the hike in electricity tariff from N225/kwh back to N65/kwh; its refusal to consult stakeholders before any tariff increase and its refusal to stop the apartheid categorisation of consumers into bands.

Noting that the success of the action was dependent on members’ collective determination and resolve, the notice urged all affiliates to ensure a comprehensive closure of all workplaces.
This was even as circulars emerged from many affiliate unions yesterday, directing their members across the nation to ensure full compliance with the NLC and TUC directive.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), in a notice seen by The Guardian, has directed its members in all ports nationwide, including jetties, terminals and oil and gas platforms to effectively ensure total compliance with the strike as directed by the NLC and TUC.

Head of Media, MWUN, John Ikemefuna, in a statement, said that the indefinite nationwide strike has become very imperative given the inconclusive national minimum wage negotiation as well as the refusal of the NERC to reverse the hike in electricity tariff.

Also, circulars from the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), urged their members to ensure total compliance.

NUEE’s acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, directed members of the union to stop work from the early hours of Sunday.

In a memo to all NUPENG branches and members, the General Secretary of the association, Afolabi Olawale, said the directive to suspend operations by the oil workers is consequent upon the beginning of a nationwide strike by both the NLC and TUC.

The memo read in part: “We bring you fraternal greetings from the national secretariat of our great union.

“This is to notify all our members and branches in all oil and gas installations, operations and services including distribution and marketing of petroleum products, that our great union is fully committed to ensuring total compliance with the directive of the NLC issued on Friday, May 31, 2O24, for an indefinite nationwide strike commencing from Monday, June 3, 2024.”

NUPENG noted that as a union, it was deeply worried that the federal and state governments have proven to be irresponsive to the depression Nigerian workers are going through at this time amid low wages and abysmal purchasing power.

“As a union, we are deeply concerned and disturbed with the insensitive and irresponsive attitude of the Federal Government to the very critical issue of negotiating a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers given the various social economic policies of this administration that have impoverished the working people of this country,” the statement added.

It urged its leaders at various levels to put machinery in motion for a long and sustained industrial action until organised labour gets a new negotiated national minimum wage law.

“Leaders of our great union at all levels, from the units, zones and branches, should immediately put all processes in place to ensure total compliance with this directive. Our solidarity remains constant for the union makes us strong. The struggles continue. And we shall overcome,” it noted.

The Kaduna State Chapter of the NLC has also called on all civil servants and workers in the state to stay away from their offices to ensure the success of the indefinite strike.

The state secretary of the NLC, Comrade Gado Husaini Titus, in a statement yesterday, said: “In view of the declaration of an indefinite strike action by the national leadership of both congresses – NLC and TUC, a joint monitoring team (committee) shall be stern in monitoring and enforcing compliance across all sectors and segments of Kaduna State for which comprehensive daily reports to the national leadership shall be made.

“Thus, union leaderships should do the needful by ensuring that the strike is total and comprehensive until further directive from the national leadership is given.
“All workers are to stay away from their offices/places of work effective Monday, June 3, 2024.

“We look forward to your usual and unrelenting compliance and solidarity.”
To avert a nationwide strike in the electricity sector, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has invited labour to a meeting on Monday.

One of the labour leaders in the electricity sector confirmed this to The Guardian, but said the meeting would hold as the strike is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have warned that they would mobilise across all 36 states of the federation to challenge the strike action.
While lamenting that the labour unions have not been protecting the interests of PWDs, they stressed that the demand for a minimum wage of over N400,000 is selfish and outrageous.

Speaking shortly after an event organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organisations in collaboration with PWDs, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was called on to appoint Halimat Adenike  Tejuosho as the new minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Chairman of the Northern Youth Disability Forum, Muhammad Musa Zaria, stated that they do not support the strike.

According to Zaria, declaration of an indefinite strike by the organised labour means every aspect of life would be shut down and life would be unbearable for the vulnerable PWDs.
“We are calling the attention of the NLC. We are not together with them on this strike. There is no agenda for PWDs within the NLC. They have nothing for us. Most of us are not civil servants. Many PWDs have to go out and beg for food. If you shut down this country, who is going to provide food for us and take care of our responsibilities?” Zaria asked.

Zaria emphasised their opposition to the indefinite strike and announced that by Monday, over 2,000 PWDs would protest on the streets of Abuja against the strike.
“We are advising the NLC to negotiate with the government. The NLC’s demands are unfair. If the Federal Government approves N400,000 as the minimum wage for civil servants, there will be a high rate of inflation. Costs of food, transportation and rent will rise. If civil servants can afford to pay, what about PWDs who are jobless and have to beg to eat? Zaria queried.

When asked about their demands, Zaria said: “We don’t support what the labour union is doing. All we want is for the Federal Government to appoint Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

“We urge the president to fill the vacancy left by the suspension of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, by appointing Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the new minister. This appointment would help Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy, particularly in the area of poverty alleviation, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”