Tag: Strike

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We Are On Strike, Stay At Home – NLC Tells Workers

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has instructed Nigerian workers to stay at home as it embarks on a Nationwide strike today, June 3.

The NLC made this known in a post shared on its X handle this morning June 3.

The decision of the Organised Labour to continue with its nationwide strike followed the deadlock meeting it had with the Federal Government and the National Assembly leaders over a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

The labour unions argue that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers.

Labour later handed the Federal Government a May 31 deadline for the a new minimum wage. On May 31, the Labour union declared a nationwide strike beginning from Monday, June 3, 2024 over the government committee’s inability to agree on a new minimum wage and reversal of electricity tariff hike.

During the failed talks with the government, Labour rejected three government’s offers, the latest being N60,000. Both the TUC and the NLC subsequently pulled out of negotiations, insisting on ₦497,000 as the new minimum wage.

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GRID SHUT DOWN : UNION DELIBERATELY SHUT DOWN THE NATIONAL GRID.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby informs the general public that the Labour Union has shut down the national grid, resulting in black out nationwide. The national grid shut down occured at about 2.19am this morning, 3rd June 2024.

At about 1:15am 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 and without any form of control or supervision, the Benin Area Control Center 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, 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 2:19am.

At about 3.23am, 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 stabilize the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centres nationwide.

Ndidi Mbah
GM, Public Affairs
3/5/24

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Susidy Removal: Why We Did Not Embark On Nationwide Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has explained why it did not embark on an industrial action scheduled for Wednesday, June 7, over the removal of fuel subsidy.

It revealed that it decided to call off its strike over the removal of fuel subsidy partly in obedience to an order of the National Industrial Court (NICN).

In a communique issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, June 6, the NLC faulted the court order, saying it amounted to an abuse of ex-parte injunction.

The group directed all affiliates and state councils to suspend mobilisation until the outcome of the negotiations.

The statement read;

“An emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress which was called to discuss the outcome of the Dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the petroleum products price hike after extensive deliberation observed that:

“The previous NEC-in-session had ordered a nationwide withdrawal of services and mass protest over the petroleum price hike by the federal government;

“Whereas the Federal Government was in breach of the 2023 Appropriation Act, the NLC will not encourage lawlessness on its part;

“Taking into account that the Federal Government has procured a court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike as the NEC-in-session had ordered to begin, Wednesday, the 7th of June, 2023;

“Recognising the willingness of government for continuous engagement through dialogue and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of its policies and some levels of understanding reached;

“Considering the mood of the socio-polity last elections and the need to pursue national stability;

“Consequently, the NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to commend and applaud the diligence of the Congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC.

“To demonstrate to the Federal Government the need to comply with the laws of the land especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act

“To, therefore, support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC and also allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June 2023 negotiation round with the federal government

“To, however, register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for its continuous weaponisation of the instrument of ex-parte injunction in favour of government against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.

“All Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations.

“To commend all affiliates and state councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nationwide strike action and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.”

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NLC, TUC Suspend Planned Strike

The Nigerian Labour Congress has suspended its planned nationwide strike after nearly six-hour meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, according to a report by Punch.

The nationwide strike was planned for Wednesday.

The decision was part of resolutions announced by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and confirmed by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.

Monday’s engagement is the third in a series of meetings between the government and key labour stakeholders after the President, Bola Tinubu, announced the discontinuance of petroleum subsidy exactly one week ago.

At Monday’s meeting, the parties agreed that “The NLC will suspend notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.

“The TUC and the NLC to continue ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions.

“The labour centres and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023 to agree on an implementation framework.”

Gbajabiamila also announced that the FG, TUC and NLC are to establish a joint committee to review the proposal of any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

The Federal Government, TUC and NLC will also review the $800m World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the program.

Monday’s resolution also include the review of the CNG conversion program earlier agreed with labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.

The Labour centres and the FG will also review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

The Labour centres and the FG will also review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

The labour centres and the FG will review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.

This also includes a provision of a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks nationwide.

“All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee,” the Speaker said.

On his part, the NLC President said “These are the framework for us to follow in achieving some of the agreements reached here.

“You can see that not is yet in concrete terms. So, at the adjourned date, we will go into more specifics to make sure this knotty issue is resolved.”

Asked if the strike had indeed been suspended, Ajaero said “I thought that the speaker read it out.”

The President of TUC, Festus Osifo, said the organised labour are committed to resolving the issues raised and alleviating the suffering of those vulnerable Nigerians following the discontinuance of subsidy.

However, he urged the FG to take the resolutions seriously.

“So I want us to commit to get these issues resolved as soon as possible.

“So for us from labour, we are totally committed to get these issues resolved for the benefit of Nigerians,” Osifo said.

In attendance were the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, Hon. James Faleke, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju are among others representing the FG.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, later joined the government’s delegation.