The Nigerian economy was partially paralysed on Monday following the nationwide strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
The nation’s power sector, banks, ports, hospitals, schools, government ministries, departments and agencies were all shut down following the labour unions’ strike.
The labour unions declared a strike after it failed to reach an agreement with the Federal Government on the new minimum wage.
The PUNCH reported earlier that the organised labour on Friday declared a nationwide strike, which would begin on Monday over the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000 and reverse the Band A tariff to N65 per kilowatt-hour instead of N206/KWh.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, stated that the indefinite strike would begin by midnight on Monday.
The NLC leader, who read from a jointly prepared speech alongside his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, expressed what he described as “grave concern and disappointment” over the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and pass into law a new National Minimum Wage Act, and reverse the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.
As the Presidency and the National Assembly failed to pacify the workers on Sunday, members of the National Union of Electricity Employees swung into action by shutting down the national grid, plunging the nation into darkness.
Some NUEE members who were on duty were reportedly forced to comply with the industrial action.
Checks by our correspondents confirmed that there was no trace of power generation on the national grid as of 8am on Monday. The distribution companies received no power allocation, except the Abuja disco which had only 10 megawatts later in the day.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria said its workers on duty were beaten and wounded by union leaders who stormed its offices to send them out.
TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, said, “At about 1:15 am this (Monday) 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 and 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.”
But the National President of the NUEE, Adebiyi Adeyeye, debunked the allegation, saying the union only withdrew its members in compliance with the directive of the organised labour.
“Does the TCN have evidence on that? You and I know there was a directive from the NLC and TUC to withdraw services, and not to come to work, and that’s what we did. It is a false claim if anyone claims that they came to their facility to beat them up. It is not true. Don’t come to work, that’s what we heard, and we obeyed it,” Adeyeye stated.
Grid remains shut
The NUEE said its members would not return to their duty posts until the organised labour calls off the strike.
Asked if the union was considering the impact of the grid shutdown on the economy, the NUEE boss replied, “What have we done differently? They said Nigerian workers should withdraw their services and that’s what we did. No one should see us as either saboteurs or traitors, we are not one. We love our dear country, and we want Nigeria to succeed.”
On whether the union would return to work if the Federal Government reached an agreement with labour on the minimum wage while retaining the Band A tariff hike, he retorted, “All of us are into it together. Your N10,000 cannot buy you just 500 units of electricity now.
“If the government pays the minimum wage and fails to reverse the tariff, all of us will be there to see what will happen at the end of the day. But I won’t confirm to you if we are going to take further action on it or not now. But what we are talking about now is a directive from the TUC and NLC which is crucial at this particular hour. We have to obey the leadership of the union. That’s what we are doing at the moment.”
Labour pickets banks
Members of the labour unions picketed some banks on Lagos Island on Monday, even as many banks across the country ran skeletal services.
Our correspondents observed that union leaders picketed the headquarters of the United Bank for Africa, denying entry to some employees working in the building.
The Wema Bank headquarters was also locked to the public same as some branches of FirstBank, Polaris Bank on Marina, and Broad streets in Lagos.
At the First Bank branch on Customs Street, opposite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s office in Lagos, the doors were shut and their four Automated Teller Machines were out of service.
A bank security guard revealed that the picketing by labour unions made them close the branch although they were discreetly letting in customers in batches.
Speaking with journalists at the access gate of the UBA, the General Secretary, of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, Sheikh Muhammed, lamented that the FG’s offer was worthless and not enough to feed dogs.
He said, “What they are offering is not enough for the breakfast of their dogs for those of them who have dogs as pets. The money that they are placing on the table and asking Nigerian workers to accept, a lot of them in government, both at the executive and legislative arms, is not even enough to pay for their pets’ food. They spend more money on their pets than they are offering as minimum wage.
“Under the current situation, a reasonable government that has come in, taken some economic steps that have now affected Nigerians cannot have that empathy to bring a reasonable and legitimate offer to the table that will not only take workers to the bus stop but to their homes and fend for their families. For these people, rather than having an open mind, that empathy, they are offering what’s not enough to feed their pets.”
He added that the unions in the oil and gas sector of the economy would comply with the labour’s directive and join the strike, leaving the filling stations empty.
“I can assure you that all the industrial unions under the NLC and TUC will comply with the strike action. This is day one and there may have been hiccups here and there, but I can assure you that NUPENG, being one of the active unions of the congress will comply. It is a matter of time. If by evening and government hasn’t responded, you will discover that beyond NLC and TUC, Nigerian masses will join this protest.
“This is day one and barely afternoon, before evening, you will find that in some of the filling stations, you will not see anyone there again,” he concluded.
Port agents stranded
Port workers including licensed customs stranded on Monday following the lockup of of the ports by members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in compliance with the directive of both the organised labour.
The PUNCH gathered that due to the strike, many workers and truck drivers were denied entry into the Apapa and Tincan Island ports in Lagos.
Confirming the development, the Vice President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr Nnadi Ugochukwu, told our correspondent that all the entry gates to Tincan Island ports were under lock and key.
“I don’t know who locked them up,” Nnadi said.
Also speaking, the former acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Kayode Farinto, said that there is a total shutdown at the ports.
Farinto also lamented that they were denied access to the ports.
“Nothing is working, we don’t even have access to enter the port, they didn’t allow us to access the ports. But we have been doing our documentation, we can’t do examination and delivery, that is the situation of the whole thing,” he said.
According to Farinto, development means negative for the economy.
“It means negative for the economy; it is not too good. The government should listen to their complaints. The rate of inflation is very high, the government should consider that too. The MWUN were the people that shut all the ports of Tincan and Apapa,” Farinto said.
Recall that members of the maritime union over the weekend, vowed to comply with the directive to join in the indefinite nationwide strike.https://496e8c44949f31dc604853cf89d11379.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?n=0
The President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, said the indefinite nationwide strike has become very imperative, “given the failure of the Federal Government and the inconclusive national minimum wage negotiation and refusal to reverse the hard-biting hike in electricity tariff”.
Healthcare workers withdraw services
Meanwhile, healthcare workers at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital withdrew their services on Monday, resulting in some patients being left without care.
Our correspondent who visited the hospital witnessed how the hospital gate was locked, preventing entry for both patients and members of staff from noon to about 4 pm.
It was also observed that the hospital’s gates across from the Conoil filling station were locked and only allowed access by foot, while the second gate at the intersection of Medical Road was accessible for both cars and pedestrians.
Also, there was a presence of some policemen from Area F at the main gate of the hospital.
Speaking to our correspondent, a doctor who pleaded anonymity stated that the doctors had been chased to their lodge as a result of the strike.
“We are not on duty today. They chased us out of the hospital, and we cannot attend to patients. We are currently at our lodge because of the national strike.”
A nurse, simply identified as Bola noted that the strike would also impact not just the patients but also the hospital’s income.
She said, “The strike is needed, but the sad thing is that we are not allowed to work, and patients are currently stranded. Although some departments are open, not all are, and I am sure it will not only affect the patients but also the revenue of the hospital.”
A security officer who also pleaded anonymity because he is not authorised to speak on the issue added that only surgeons are permitted to attend to patients in the surgical department, and nurses have been driven out of the clinic.
“The only wards that are open currently are the emergency ward and the surgical ward, and that is because of people who have emergency cases. Also, the female ward is opened in case a woman wants to give birth.
“All the doctors parked their bags at their lodge because they were not allowed to stay in their offices. Some doctors are still around, but nurses are not available. You can only see a doctor for other reasons if you have a personal person that you know before coming in,” he stated.
The NLC Chairperson in Lagos, Funmi Sessi, added that the nationwide strike will not end unless the government raises the minimum wage.
“Everything is out of reach for salary workers. Labour and NLC are very much awake. Nigeria will say they are the giants of Africa, but is it really that? The money they are insisting on paying cannot be compared with the current socio-economic situation in Nigeria,” she stressed.
The NLC Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Ishola Adejuwon, noted that the strike will continue peacefully, urging the public to return home until the government intervenes.
“The banks were shut down today as a result of the strike. We are coordinated, and we are peaceful. What we are doing here is ensuring that all our members comply with the strike, and God willing, we hope the result will come out in favour of the masses. What we gave was an ultimatum of May 31st, and nothing has been done. We already stated that we would withdraw our services if nothing was done.
“When it will end, we cannot determine. The national body will meet with all the organs of the NLC and TUC today to pass a resolution based on the discussion they had yesterday with the government. If the directive is acceptable, we will give it a call, but if it’s not acceptable, we will continue.
“We are the ones that generate the funds and create the wealth of the nation. We are privileged to have the financial strength of the nation. If what we are asking for is outrageous, then the government should leave their books open. We all know that since the fuel subsidy, the revenue of the state and local governments has tripled. When we, the workers, are well paid, we can have a higher purchasing power. We are hungry and angry, so we are pleading with the government to heed our demand. We don’t just declare a strike. The only solution to the problem is for the government to increase the 60,000 a bit,” Adejuwon noted.
The PUNCH gathered that healthcare workers under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives and the Joint Health Sector Unions rendered skeletal services in Abuja hospitals on Monday.
One of our correspondents also observed that the First Bank branch along Okota Roundabout opened and banking transactions went on seamlessly. Customers were going in and out to carry out their banking activities.
The Access Bank branch along Apata opened for business, but there were staggered operations. A few customers were sighted using the Automated Teller Machines.
Also, the Sterling Bank branch located on Ire-Akari Road opened for customers. The Fidelity Bank along Okeho Road had few customers in the banking hall.
The Parallel Bank office along 7&8 Road Gate was closed, but a few customers were using the ATM outside.
Meanwhile, FCMB had customers going in and out of the banking all. There was no disruption at the time of filing this report.
Airlines suspend operations
Aviation unions at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos brought all activities to a halt on Monday.
The striking aviation unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers.
The unions had notified Nigerian local airports that they would be shut by 00:00hrs on Monday, June 3rd, 2024 while the closure of the international airports commences on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024.
Passengers who had hitherto planned to board flights to different destinations on Monday were barred from boarding as aviation unions locked the entrance gate to the domestic terminal of the Lagos airport.
Our correspondents, who monitored the union’s activities, observed that at 7:10 am, workers had strategically positioned themselves, shutting various gates within the airport.
Entrances of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria were also seen to be under lock and key with police presence.
Many of the travellers were told to return home, pending when the organised labour and the Federal Government would reach a truce on the figure for minimum wage.
However, activities were not disrupted at the international wing of the airport as aviation unions gave operating airlines another 24 hours to conclude their flights.
The unions in their numbers were seen in different strategic locations with various flags and banners to press home their demands.
Also, airlines have begun to suspend their operations.
On its part, Ibom Air through its X handle account announced the suspension of its flight operations until further notice.
The airline noted that it was unable to dispatch any of its scheduled flights to their various destinations because of the disruption by the workers.
Also, Arik Air, in its travel advisory to its customers, said affected stranded customers have an option of rebooking or rescheduling the flights at no additional cost.
The airline said, “Customers whose flights may have been affected by the NLC action will have the option of rebooking/rescheduling the flights at no additional cost.
Speaking with journalists, the General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Francis Akinjole, emphasised that activities at the international wing would be grounded on Tuesday.
He had earlier told passengers to return to their various homes because there was no sign that the strike could be called off soon.
He added that the workers were left with no other option than to grand the airport, adding that until the government accedes to their demand, there will be no air transportation in the country.
“We just do not have any choice but to embark on what we are doing and it is clear. If the Federal Government signs the new minimum wage today, we will leave; but if they do not, we are starting here today as the commencement day.
“Tomorrow, as we said in our notice to the general public, we are going to ground activities at the international wing.
“The only reason why we are not starting the international wing today, is because we are aware that some flights were already airborne, so we are not as insensitive as some people might want to think,” he said.
Akinjole further said the union was prepared for the length of time the strike would last, but called on the Federal Government to consider the yearnings of Nigerians.
“We are prepared to go the whole length. Government should pay the Minimum Living Wage, that is what they should do,” he noted.
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency branch of the Association of Nigeria Airport Professionals, Patrick Evuarhehe, also said that no skeletal activities were permitted.
Evuarhehe stated that it was a fight for all and not of selfish interests because ‘an injury to one, is an injury to all’.
Meanwhile, NUATE has said that all international flights will be put on hold starting from Tuesday, pending when the federal government addresses their demands concerning a minimum wage increase. This move follows the union’s shutdown of local flights.
Deputy National President of NUATE, Uzor Oluchi, disclosed this to the PUNCH during an interview at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday.
Oluchi stated his position saying, “We are working with the directive of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress. Our headquarters is in Lagos, and we are getting directives from them. This is not only about Aviation, the prices of commodities today are going high.
“Today, we allowed the international flights to move because people have already booked, and some international flights take about 12-13 hours to reach Nigeria. So, we have to let them land. But after today, if the federal government does not do anything, they will join, and we will shut down all the international flights like we did for local flights.”
President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representative in Nigeria, Kingsley Nwokoma, while reacting, hoped that the Federal Government and Labour would resolve the matter amicably.
Credit: Punch