First day of the industrial action ordered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) kicked off with mixed compliance by workers across Nigeria, some complied while others did not. This is, however not unusual with the first day of industrial actions. The strike started on a shaky note
First day of the industrial action ordered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) kicked off with mixed compliance by workers across Nigeria, some complied while others did not. This is, however not unusual with the first day of industrial actions. The strike started on a shaky note on Tuesday as civil servants, banks and schools opened for business in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The leadership of the two unions reached the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja. The strike is also to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in Imo State. It, however, also coincides with the 30 days ultimatum given to the federal government to fulfil demands aftermath of the removal of fuel subsidy.
But, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, last Friday restrained the labour unions from embarking on strike. Justice Benedict Kanyip, who is also the president of the court, ordered the organised labour to stop their industrial action scheduled to commence 14 November.
The interim order followed an ex-parte application by the Nigerian government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, following the Labour unions’ threat to embark on strike.
The TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, who directed compliance to the earlier decision of the organised labour to proceed on industrial action said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.” The unions had on Tuesday last week, said they will embark on a national strike from Tuesday, 14 November.
The police early on Tuesday in a motorcade displayed a show of force round the nation’s capital followed by an aerial parade of Abuja. Most commercial banks in Abuja and other cities and towns opened their doors for business and attended to their customers unhindered.
Mr. Emeka Nze, a journalist with an Abuja based newspaper said his children went to school, had classes but were dismissed to go home around noon.
Comfort Hosea a JSS 1 student at Jabi Junior Government Secondary School, Jabi said students in her school were taught throughout on Tuesday.
At the Federal secretariat, Abuja workers were seen conducting their official duties as at noon. Also, at the National Bureau of Statistics, there was no sign of an industrial action.
Meanwhile, Electricity workers across Nigeria have shut down the national grid, leading to a nationwide blackout. The strike was called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in protest of the assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, on November 1, 2023, in Imo State. Ndidi Mbah, the spokesperson for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), confirmed the strike on Tuesday.
She said that electricity workers, members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), followed directives of the NLC to withdraw their services around 11:20 am on Monday. “Electricity workers are NLC members; they’ve followed the directive by organised labour to withdraw their services from Tuesday”, she stated.
The Federal Capital Territory and its environs are experiencing a blackout. Recall that the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced a nationwide indefinite strike starting Tuesday despite a court order restraining the unions from doing so.
As the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC pushes through with its industrial action, the Minister of Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Simon Lalong, has convened a meeting with labour leaders to avert a possible shutdown of the nation’s economy.
It is not yet clear whether Labour will attend the meeting. Organised Labour had vowed never to attend any meeting with the Labor Minister in attendance following his perceived non-keeping to agreements.
