Organised Labour’s two-day nationwide warning strike kicks in

Major activities across some state capitals in the country were either partially or completely paralysed, Tuesday, as members of the Organised Labour made do their threat to stage a two-day nationwide warning industrial action to drive home their demands for better workers’ welfare policies by the Federal Government.

The strike slated to run for two days from Tuesday to Wednesday, September 5 and 6, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was called, last Friday, as a warning to the Federal Government in protest over what it called the latter’s reluctance to address ‘the hardship Nigerians go through since the removal of fuel subsidy.’

Speaking, Friday after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, in Abuja, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero said that the meeting agreed to “embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days until steps are taken by the Government to address the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment being experienced around the country.

“To commence a 2-day nationwide warning strike on Tuesday & Wednesday the 5th & 6th of September, 2023 to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the State vacates the illegally occupied National Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.”

Before arriving at the decisions taken by the NEC, Ajaero said that “the meeting analysed the prevailing national sentiment, taking day into account the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting our citizens across all States of the federation. The Council scrutinized the Nigerian government’s failure to establish essential structures to address the widespread suffering in our nation.

“Furthermore, it considered the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard for engaging with national stakeholders through the channels of social dialogue, a commitment it had solemnly declared during the President’s inaugural address on May 29, 2023, among others before coming out with the Communiqué.”

The warning strike is also intended to serve as notice to an impending nationwide if after the present action fails to yield the desired result.

It would be recalled that on August 2, organised labour also protested what it described as the anti-people policies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliate unions demonstrated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and several states, including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.

The protest followed a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government demanding “the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in petrol or PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) pump price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers”.

The union also demanded an upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000, saying that since the President’s “subsidy is gone” inauguration speech of May 29, 2023, the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone.

Several meetings between the Presidency and the unions on palliatives for Nigerians suffering hardship in the wake of the petrol subsidy removal proved abortive.

Last month, NLC president Joe Ajaero argued that the N5 billion approved for each state and the FCT to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal was inadequate to impact on the people.

Already, the National Union of Banks, Insurance & Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) in a general circular to all Zonal Councils/Domestic Committee, last Saturday, had also directed its members to comply with the communiqué issued after the meeting of the NEC of the NLC held Thursday, August 31, 2023, directing all affiliates to commence two days withdrawal of services from Tuesday and Wednesday, the 5^th and 6^th September, 2023.

“The directives is imperative to get the needed attention of government and warn it of its new found love of meddling in the internal affairs of unions rather than address the punishing economic circumstances we find ourselves.

“We hereby direct all our organs to comply with this directive by ensuring all our members stay off duties for the two days,” the notice signed by the union’s General Secretary, Mohammed I. Sheikh read.

On the level of compliance with the strike directive by the NLC, organisations like the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had its office shut and workers denied access to the premises, just as the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja was devoid of civil servants, government agencies in Osun State grounded.

Addressing newsmen at the TCN entrance, Vice President, West, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Sodiq Adewale, said the union complied totally with the strike directive.

“We are part of the strike and we are critical stakeholders as far as NLC is concerned.

“Presently, in compliance with the NLC directive, we are mandated to embark on a warning strike which started today and will continue tomorrow. As you can see, the whole place is under lock. Nobody is coming in and as time goes on, we are going to be reviewing our activities at the level of our actions.

“So far from our end, we have total compliance”, he added.

Also, most flight operations by domestic airlines into Abuja were either cancelled or not available. This is also as the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) closed operations into the country’s capital city, Tuesday.

In Lagos State, Rivers State, workers of Ikeja Electric (IE) were locked out of their offices as some members of the union manned the gate to turn customers back, however, at the Lagos State Government Secretariat complex in Alausa, Ikeja, bank doors were open to visitors.

It was also reported that the Rivers State Secretariat complex was partially busy.

Only Monday, the Minister of Labour and Employment Mr Simon Lalong, launched an appeal to the Organised labour to shelve its two-day nationwide warning strike fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday, September 5 and 6 and give the Federal Government more time to settle down in office.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Monday, Mr Lalong, said the strike if it carried out ‘would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded on our course to securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens at large.’

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had announced, last Friday, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of its resolve to embark on the two-day industrial action to draw attention of government to the plight of the Nigerian masses which it said was in dire condition over poor economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

However, the Minister in his press briefing, urged the Labour to suspend its intended 2-day warning strike, as he requested the NLC to give ‘this Government some time to settle and address the issues on the ground holistically.’

He said that the cabinet of the present administration was only recently sworn in by President Bola Tinubu and all members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs.

“Therefore, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC are some issues that I and the Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment are being briefed upon. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them holistically.

“Consequently, I use this opportunity to reassure Nigerian workers that this government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.

“We shall continue to pursue policies aimed at massive employment generation in all sectors of the economy as well as look into immediate challenges that have emerged out of the policies of government. We cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace.”

The Minister also said that he is yet to receive official communication of the NLC Communiqué following its National Executive Council Meeting, as required by the law.

“Like many Nigerians, I and the Hon. Minister of State got the information from media sources. I believe my dear comrades will do the needful by following laid down processes for handling such matters since the cabinet is now in place unlike previously when there was no cabinet on the ground.

“In specific terms, let me take the issues presented by the NLC one after the other. On the issue of subsidy removal, palliative measures are already being handled and implemented, beginning with the State and local governments.

“You will recall that on the directive of Mr. President, the Federal Government dispatched trucks of rice and other grains to States for immediate distribution to most vulnerable citizens.

“In addition, the National Economic Council under the Chairmanship of His Excellency the Vice President approved the disbursement of N5 billion to the 36 States and the FCT for purchase and distribution of more palliatives and further interventions.

“However, the Government has to take these decisions now rather than delay them further and put the nation into more difficulties that might be impossible to reverse.”