The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have embarked on an indefinite strike, effective today, over unresolved issues with the Federal Government. The strike affects essential services such as fuel distribution, healthcare, and banking, following the expiration of a May 31 deadline for a new national minimum wage and the reversal of a recent electricity tariff hike.
Despite a marathon meeting with government officials, including the Senate President, Speaker of the House, and Minister of Finance, labour leaders refused to budge. The meeting aimed to resolve the impasse but ended in a deadlock.
The Trade Union Congress has directed affiliate unions, including PENGASSAN, ASSBIFI, and ASCSN, to ensure total compliance with the strike. Earlier, NLC affiliates like NUPENG, NUEE, MWUN, and NUBIFIE had instructed their members to join the strike.
The tripartite committee on a new national minimum wage failed to reach an agreement after four meetings, with labour leaders walking out three times due to disagreements over the government’s offers. The old minimum wage of N30,000, signed into law in 2019, expired on April 18, 2024. Negotiations collapsed when the government and organized private sector refused to budge from their offer of N60,000, which labour deemed unacceptable.
The strike has widespread implications for the nation, potentially disrupting fuel supply, healthcare services, banking operations, and other essential services. The Federal Government has urged the labour unions to reconsider their decision, citing the potential economic consequences. However, labour leaders remain resolute, insisting on a fair minimum wage and the reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
As the nationwide strike commences today, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has instructed its affiliates, including PENGASSAN, ASSBIFI, ASCSN, and other senior staff associations, to participate fully. In a directive issued on Friday, May 31, TUC Acting Secretary-General Hassan Anka conveyed the president’s message, urging state councils to mobilize for an indefinite strike effective June 3, 2024.
The directive follows a fruitless meeting with the government, which failed to address the demands of Nigerian workers and people. The meeting’s lack of progress was exacerbated by the absence of six governors and the limited mandate of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
PENGASSAN has also informed its officers nationwide, including those in Lagos, of the compulsory strike. A notice from the Lagos Zone’s Public Relations Officer, Juliana Adenike, emphasized strict compliance, directing executives to wear red or PENGASSAN attire and ensure 100% participation. A joint TUC/NLC task force will monitor adherence, and defaulting companies will face penalties.
Other critical unions affiliated with the NLC, including NUPENG, NUEE, MWUN, and NUBIFIE, have pledged total compliance, joining forces to press for a fair minimum wage and the reversal of the electricity tariff hike. The strike’s impact is expected to be widespread, potentially disrupting fuel supply, electricity services, banking operations, and other essential services.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a circular to its national and state officials, notifying them of a nationwide strike effective June 3, 2024. Dr. Mike Ene, NUT Secretary General, explained that the strike is in solidarity with organized labour’s demand for a living wage, which the federal government has failed to address.
The circular directs state chairmen and secretaries to mobilize members to participate fully in the strike, ensuring that all schools remain closed until further notice. The national leadership emphasizes strict compliance, stating that no excuses for non-compliance will be tolerated. As a key stakeholder in the struggle, NUT is committed to seeing the strike through to its logical conclusion.
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has chosen not to participate in the strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), instead advocating for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the impasse between labour and government.
In a statement, NAPPS leaders, including Chief Yomi Otubela, Comrade Augustine Ajibade, and Pastor Gabriel Igbinejesu, acknowledged the struggles of workers but emphasized the need for a constructive approach that prioritizes the nation’s well-being. They urged both parties to engage in dialogue, negotiation, and mediation, offering NAPPS’ support and expertise to facilitate a fair and sustainable resolution.
NAPPS directed its members not to join the strike, citing the potential disruption to the education sector and the importance of stability for the nation’s growth and development. By opting out of the strike, NAPPS aims to promote a peaceful and constructive resolution that benefits all parties involved.
The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (M&HWUN) has issued a circular directing its members to prepare for a nationwide strike, effective June 3, 2024, at 00.01 hours. The strike is in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and is a response to the federal government’s failure to address the issues of the electricity tariff hike and living wage for workers.
The circular mandates intense mobilization of members to ensure a total shutdown of health facilities across the country. State councils are instructed to collaborate with organized labour in their respective states to ensure strict compliance and monitoring of the strike. Any form of sabotage will not be tolerated, and state councils are required to submit pictorial evidence of their compliance to the national secretariat for further action.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has confirmed its participation in the nationwide strike, while the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) is still deliberating on its stance. ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, affirmed that as an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), ASUU will join any NLC-led action.
In contrast, CONUA President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, revealed that an emergency meeting has been convened to assess the situation and determine the union’s next steps. Meanwhile, Prof. Kayode Adebayo, ASUU Chairman at the University of Lagos, emphasized that the NLC and government have until midnight on Sunday to resolve their differences. If an agreement is reached, the strike may be averted, but if the impasse persists, all NLC affiliates, including ASUU, will join the strike.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a circular directing its members to comply with the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). In the circular, signed by Kingsley Okayi, Senior Assistant General Secretary, SSANU greeted its members and affiliates warmly.
As an affiliate of the NLC, SSANU has been instructed to ensure a total closure of workplaces effective June 3, 2024, until further notice. To achieve this, SSANU members have been directed to liaise with their respective NLC state chapters and report progress to the national secretariat through their national vice presidents. This coordinated effort is aimed at maximizing the impact of the strike and ensuring that the union’s demands are met. The SSANU leadership has emphasized the importance of solidarity and strict adherence to the strike directive, urging all members to comply fully with the industrial action to support the collective goals of organized labour.
The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has issued a directive to its council, committee, and organ to mobilize members for a nationwide strike. The strike, commencing on June 3, 2024, aims to pressure the government to address two key demands: reversing the recent electricity tariff hike and concluding the national minimum wage negotiation. By joining the strike, AUPCTRE seeks to amplify the voices of its members and secure fair treatment.
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has issued a statement directing its members to mobilize for a nationwide industrial action, commencing midnight Sunday, June 3, 2024. This action is in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) strike, protesting the government’s failure to conclude the new national minimum wage negotiation and reverse the electricity tariff hike.
JUSUN’s Acting General Secretary, Moses Akwashiki, instructed branch and chapter chairmen and secretaries to ensure strict compliance with the directive, which aims to pressure the government to pass the new national minimum wage into law and revert the electricity tariff to its previous rate of N66/kWh. The union’s vice presidents are tasked with monitoring their respective zones to guarantee a total shutdown of courts and judicial institutes across Nigeria, thereby ending the “apartheid categorization” of electricity consumers.
The Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) has issued a circular, signed by its Secretary General, Igbokwe Francis, notifying members of a nationwide strike action. The strike, commencing on June 3, 2024, at 12 midnight, is in response to the federal government’s failure to meet the demands of organized labour.
Specifically, the government has refused to pass a new national minimum wage into law and reinstate the previous electricity tariff of N66/kWh, instead of the current N225/kWh. Additionally, the government’s categorization of electricity consumers into bands has been criticized. In light of this, the NUR has advised management to take necessary measures to protect the corporation’s critical equipment and properties.
The strike is poised to create significant disruptions across various sectors, with the potential to impact millions of Nigerians. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing negotiations and the possibility of further developments as the strike progresses. The labour unions’ resolve and the government’s response will play crucial roles in determining the outcome of this nationwide industrial action.
