The wheel of the nation’s administrative and economic activities slowly stopped on Monday as the organised labour ordered its members to stay off their duty posts.

But there is hope that the strike may be called off on Tuesday as both the organised labour and government would resume negotiation.

A task force consisting of members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) went around the nation’s capital, Abuja, to enforce strict compliance with the strike.

The tripartite committee negotiating the new national minimum wage failed to agree with the organised labour as both the government and the organised private sector refused to shift their ground on the N60,000 offer it presented at last Tuesday’s meeting. The government had raised its offer from an initial N48,000 to N57,000. However, the labour unions who were asking for N615,000 dismissed the offers.

After a series of horse-trading, the government and OPS added N3,000 to the N57,000, taking the total offer from both sides to N60,000, while labour lowered its demands to N497,000 and then to N494,000.

The leadership of the national assembly led by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas made last-minute efforts to halt the strike. The effort, however, failed.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) cautioned the organised labour not to proceed with the industrial action as the negotiation had not collapsed.

But the labour unions made good their threats as economic activities across Nigeria were shut down by noon on Monday. Workers in the banking, oil and gas, medical and health, electricity, aviation, judiciary, and university sectors, among others, obeyed the directive from the leadership of the unions.

The duo declared an indefinite strike on Friday following a breakdown of talks on the new minimum wage negotiation with the government. Consequently, there was a declaration of industrial action by two labour centres and a directive that all affiliates should mobilize for the commencement of the action beginning on Monday. Virtually all the unions have sent out letters directing their members to join the strike.

Some of the unions that sent out letters are; the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW), National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

PENGASSAN letter to members titled: “Directive to Embark on a Nationwide Strike” reads: “Following the directive from our umbrella body, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), on the above subject, you are hereby directed to withdraw your services from all work locations effective Monday, June 3rd, 2024. The withdrawal of members includes offices, logistics bases, field operations, terminal operations, loading points, etc. The only exceptions are personnel manning for safety.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) directive to its members across the country reads: “Concerning the circular from the NLC dated May 31, 2024, we are to mobilise and embark on an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, June 3, 2024, by 0:00. All national, state, and chapter executives are requested to start the mobilisation of our members in total compliance with this directive.”

To its members nationwide, the Banks Union said: “This is to inform all NUBIFIE organs that the Nigeria Labour Congress has directed all affiliates to commence an indefinite strike beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024. In total compliance with the directive from the NLC, you are hereby directed to mobilise for effective participation in your respective zonal councils and domestic committees.”

The judicial workers union directed its members: “Following the declaration of industrial action by NLC and TUC, beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024, due to the inability of the government to conclude the negotiation of the new minimum wage and refusal to reverse the increase in electricity tariff, you are directed to commence mobilisation to commence the industrial action.

The Medical and Health Workers Union said: “Sequel to the declaration of a nationwide indefinite strike by the Organised Labour over the Federal Government’s apparent unseriousness and failure to reverse the satanic increment of the electricity tariff and conclude negotiations for a living wage for Nigerian workers, you are requested to immediately commence intense mobilisation of our members for a total shutdown of all the healthcare facilities in the country, commencing from 00:01 hours on June 3, 2024, in compliance with the directive of the NLC.”

The Federal Government appealed to the NLC and TUC to prevail on their members to shelve the planned strike, saying it was not in the interest of the nation. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said that the government had consistently demonstrated commitment and goodwill throughout the negotiations with organised labour.

The minister cautioned that declaring a strike in the middle of ongoing negotiations would not only compound the economic woes but also exacerbate the suffering of millions of Nigerians who are already struggling to eke out a living from their daily endeavours.

In a statement by her media adviser, Emameh Gabriel, she explained that the government’s proposals were carefully crafted, taking into account the country’s economic realities and incorporating innovative solutions.

“These proposals include a comprehensive package featuring a wage increase to N60,000 for federal workers, the introduction of CNG-fueled buses, and enhanced financial access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Additionally, the government has pledged investments in strategic sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare, and many others that are already in the pipeline,” the statement said.

The minister warned that any new minimum wage must not lead to widespread job losses, particularly in the Organised Private Sector, which employs the bulk of the nation’s workforce

The statement said: “This sector is crucial to the country’s economic growth and stability. The government’s stance is rooted in a deep understanding of the negotiations, demonstrating its dedication to finding a balance between the needs of workers and the economic realities of the country. The goal is to establish a minimum wage that is not only realistic but also sustainable, avoiding any potentially detrimental consequences for the economy.

“By adopting this approach, the government aims to safeguard the interests of both workers and employers, ensuring that any agreement reached is mutually beneficial and does not jeopardise the country’s economic progress. This balanced stance is crucial for maintaining harmony in the workforce and driving national growth,” it added.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria in the early hours of Monday announced the complete shutdown of Nigeria’s power grid by labour unions as the strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress begins.

Announcing the shutdown of the national power grid in a statement issued on Monday morning by TCN spokesperson, Mr. Ndidi Mbah, the transmission firm said the action was deliberately done by the workers. The statement, titled: “Grid shutdown: Union Deliberately shuts down the National Grid” states in part: “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby informs the general public that the labour union has shut down the national grid, resulting in a blackout nationwide. The national grid shutdown occurred at about 2.19 am this morning, June 3, 2024.

“At about 1:15 am this morning, the Benin Transmission Operator under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN reported that all operators were driven away from the control room and that staff that resisted were beaten while some were wounded in the course of forcing them out of the control room. Without any form of control or supervision, the Benin Area Control Centre was brought to zero.

“Other transmission substations that were shut down by the labour union include the Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo transmission substations. Some transmission lines were equally opened due to the ongoing activities of the labour union.”

On the power generating side, TCN said the power generating units from different generating stations were forced to shut down some units of their generating plants.

“The Jebba Generating Station was forced to shut down one of its generating units while three others in the same substation subsequently shut down on very high frequency. The sudden forced load cuts led to high frequency and system instability, which eventually shut down the national grid at 2:19 am.

“At about 3.23 am, however, TCN commenced grid recovery, using the Shiroro Substation to attempt to feed the transmission lines supplying bulk electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. The situation is such that the labour union is still obstructing grid recovery nationwide.

“We will continue to make effort to recover and stabilise the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centres nationwide,” the statement added.

Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), shut down the National Assembly in compliance with the indefinite strike declared by the organised labour and locked the entrance and exit gates blocked with two coastal buses by PASAN. The Association also allegedly disconnected the water supply to the National Assembly.

The Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu was shut down by the NLC and TUC leadership in the state. At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport passengers were chased away by workers. In compliance with the nationwide structure declared by the organised labour, the Enugu State chapter was on its toes to ensure compliance.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), called on organised labour to postpone the nationwide strike, arguing that it will make life unbearable for Muslims preparing for Eid – el-Kabiir (Salah) celebrations. The rights group in a statement on Sunday advised NLC to postpone its strike until after the Muslim festival.

Human Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, said that the National Assembly can address the impasse between the Federal Government and Organised Labour over a living minimum wage by expediting action to pass a new National Minimum Wage Act like the swift way it did with the enactment of the National Anthem Act last week.

Mr Falana in a statement on Sunday, June 2, 2024, stressed that the call for an ongoing indefinite nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), was a result of the failure of the Federal Government to pay a realistic living new minimum wage.

He noted that the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 expired in April which makes a review which was long overdue necessary and imperative.

He noted that Section 3(4) of the Act, stipulates that the national minimum wage expires after five years and ought to have been reviewed by the National Assembly by the Act’s provisions without being prompted.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May Day, promised to pay workers a living wage. President Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, inaugurated the 37-member tripartite committee to come up with a new minimum wage on January 30, 2024. With its membership cutting across federal and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.

The 37-man committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji.