Activities across the country may be grounded as the organised labour, along with its affiliate unions, will tomorrow, embark on an indefinite strike to press home their demands from the Federal Government.
The impending indefinite strike was coming on the heels of the deadlock on talks between the organised labour and the government on a new national minimum wage and electricity tariff, among other issues.
11 labour unions have so far instructed their members to comply with the directive by the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) directing workers across the country to commence the strike by tomorrow.
The unions in solidarity with the NLC and the TUC are the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), National Union Of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), National Union of Banks, Insurance & Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
Others included the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
The 11 workers’ unions, in separate circulars, instructed their members across board to comply with the directive from the NLC and the TUC and ensure strict compliance with the indefinite nationwide strike.
The Nigeria Civil Service Union, in a circular, RCSU/GEN/VOL1/122, dated 1 June, 2024, by its General Secretary, Comrade Bomoi Mohammed Ibraheem, instructed all its members to comply with the directive.
“The national leadership is hereby directing all state chapters to comply with the directive of organised labour declared nationwide indefinite strike action which is scheduled to commence on Monday, 3 June, 2024.
“This is in furtherance to the directives of organised labour, comprising both NLC and TUC, due to a deadlock at the meeting of Negotiation Committee on New National Minimum Wage
“Please, adhere to this directive and make the nationwide strike action exercise total and successful. Aluta continua victoria acerta!!!”
The National Secretariat of the NUCECFWW, likewise instructed all its members to down tools and join the nationwide industrial strike from tomorrow.
“Furthermore, we are glad to inform you that the NLC and TUC have directed the commencement of a nationwide indefinite strike starting Monday, 3 June, 2024. Please, find attached circular from the Headquarters of the NLC which is self- explanatory.
“Consequently, all state councils of NUCECFWW are by this circular directed to laise with the leadership of the NLC and TUC in your respective states for proper coordination, guide and direction,” the General Secretary, Comrade Ibrahim A. Walama, stated in a release.
Similarly, the National Union of Banks, Insurance & Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) directed all its zonal councils and the domestic committee to mobilise its members for the industrial action.
NUBIFIE, in a general circular dated 31, May, 2024 by its General Secretary, Muhammed Ishiyaku Sheikh, directed all its members to ensure a total compliance with the nationwide strike.
“This is to inform all NUBIFIE organs that NLC has directed all its affiliates to commence an indefinite strike, beginning from Monday the 3rd day of June, 2024.
“The import of the strike is to compel the Federal Government to: Agree on a new national minimum wage and subsequently pass it into law before the end of this month as they were notified;
“Reverse the hike in electricity tariff without consulting the stakeholders as required by the law to N225/kwh back 10 N66/kwh; and stop the apartheid categorisation of Nigerian electricity into bands.
“In total compliance with the directives from the NLC, you are hereby directed to mobilise for effective participation in your respective zonal councils/domestic committee. Ensure total compliance!”
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), in a circular, NUEE/NS/2024/128 and dated 31 May, 2024, instructed its members to totally withdraw their services by midnight today.
NUEE stated in the circular by its acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, that the directive was in complains with the circular from the NLC.
“With reference to the circular from the NLC, dated 31 May, 2024, we are to mobilise and embark on an indefinite nationwide strike, starting Monday, 3 June, 2024 by 0.00hour due to the following reasons:
“Failure Failure of the Nigerian Government to implement and sign into law the new national minimum wage on or before 31 May, 2024
“Non-reversal of the electricity tariff which was hiked from N65/kwh to N225/kwh without consulting the stakeholders as required by the law; and apartheid categorisation of Nigeria electricity consumers into bands.
“Given the above, all national, state, and chapter executives are requested to start the mobilisation of our members in total compliance with this directive to ensure the government do the right thing as stated above.
“You are encouraged to work with the leadership of State Executive Councils (SEC) of the Congress in your various states to have a successful action.
“The withdrawal of services becomes effective Sunday 2nd June by 12.00 midnight. Please ensure total compliance.”
Towing same line, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), in a circular, directed its deputy president, all vice presidents, all chairmen and secretaries of branches and chapters to mobilise all members for the nationwide strike.
“Following a declaration of industrial action by NLC and TUC, beginning from Monday, 3rd June 2024 due to the inability of government to conclude the negotiation of the new national minimum wage and refusal to reverse the increase in electricity tariff, I am directed to inform you to commence mobilisation ahead of the action
“The action will start midnight on Sunday nationwide. So all branches/chapters chairmen and secretaries of JUSUN are expected to ensure strict compliance to this directive.
“All vice presidents of our great unions are to monitor their respective zones to ensure compliance with the total shut down of all courts and judicial institutes across Nigeria
“Note that the nationwide action is to ensure government agree on a new national minimum wage and subsequently pass it into law before the end of this month as they were notified;
“Reverse the hike in electricity tariff without consulting the stakeholders as required by the Law to N225/kwh back to N66/kwh and stop the apartheid categorisation of Nigerian electricity consumers into bands,” JUSUN acting National Secretary, Comrade M. J. Akwashiki, stated.
Similarly, the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), in a circular, HQ/MHWUN/ADM/35/VOL.5/35, dated 1 June, 2024, directed its members to join the strike action.
The MHWUN Secretary General, Comrade Auwalu Yusuf Kiyawa, stated that the directive was sequel to the declaration of a nationwide indefinite strike by the organised labour over Federal Government’s apparent “unseriousness and failure to reverse the satanic increment of electricity tariff and conclude negotiation for a living wage for Nigeria workers.”
He added: “I wish to request you to immediately commence intense mobilisation of our members’ for a total shutdown of all the health facilities in the country, commencing from 00.01 hours, 3rd June 2024, in compliance with the directive of the NLC.
“Consequently, the state councils leadership are equally requested to collaborate with the organised labour in their state to ensure a water-tight compliance and monitoring of the strike actions, as any form of sabotage shall not be acceptable.
“Also, pictorials of your level of compliance should be posted on the National Secretariat platform for further necessary action please.”
Senior Assistant General Secretary of SSANU, Comrade Kingsley U. S. Okayi, stated that the directive to members of the union to join the strike was in line with the directive from the NLC, to which SSANU is an affiliate, on the above subject.
“I am directed by the National President to request that you comply with the information by directing all SSANU members to liaise with their NLC State Chapter to ensure a comprehensive closure of workplace with effect from Monday, 3 June, 2024 until further notice.
“You are also to liaise with your National Vice President and report the progress of the industrial action to the National Secretariat regularly,” he wrote.
The Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) were not left out as they directed to ensure strict compliance with the directive by the NLC on the nationwide strike action.
ANAP stated in a general circular by its National Trustee, Comrade Wilcox Chukwukazie Uduezue and Secretary General, Comrade Abudul Rasaq Saidu dated 1 June, 2024, to stay away from work till further notice.
“We all were aware, of the above stated subject and is unfortunate on the part of Federal Government to treat labour matters among which is too long delay by government to meaningfully negotiate the acceptable national minimum wage with the organised labour.
“Whereas, the salaries/allowances of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his cabinet were not cut, rather they skyrocketed their monthly take home pay, so also the National Assembly members.
“We are aware of your complaints and hardships being faced by all working class people but in spite of the masses outcry, the Federal Government did not reason to do the needful to pay acceptable wages.
“Worst still, is the nonchalant attitude of the National Assembly on the face-off between the organised labour and Federal Government. It is ridiculous and very unacceptable
“In the light of the aforementioned, all ANAP members and indeed all aviation workers are hereby directed to stay away from work by midnight of Sunday, 2 June, 2024 as directed by both the NLC and TUC till further notice,” the circular from ANAP read.
Also, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW) directed all its members, via a circular, NUR/32/Vol.1/37, dated 1 June, 2024, to join the nationwide strike.
The union also notified the Commissioner of Police, NRC Police Command and the Commandant NSCDC, NRC Command, among others, of its decision to participate in the strike action.
“As directed by the NLC, we write to inform you of the commencement of a nationwide strike beginning from 12 midnight, Monday, 3rd of June, 2024
“This is sequel to the insensitivity of the Federal Government of Nigeria to agree on a new national minimum wage to be passed into law as directed by the organised labour before the last day of May 2024 as notified, plus their refusal to reverse electricity to the old tariff of Noo/kwh instead of the criminally new N225/kwh, inter alia the categorisation of Nigerian electricity into bands.
“Consequently advise Management to ensure that all critical equipment and properties of the corporation are well protected (sic),” the NURW Secretary General, Comrade Igbokwe Francis, stated in the circular.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also instructed its members nationwide to join and fully participate in the indefinite strike action.
NUPENG stated in a circular, HO/Ops./063/2024, instructed its members to comply with the directive on indefinite nationwide strike, as directed by the NLC and the TUC.
“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, 31 May, 2024, for an indefinite nationwide strike, commencing from Monday, 3rd June, 2024.
“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 in view of the various social economic policies of this administration that have impoverished the working people of this country.
“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!!! Thank you,” NUPENG General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, stated in the circular.
