FG calls for emergency meeting with organised labour as strike cripples Nigeria
By Emma Ogbuehi
The federal government has called for an emergency meeting of the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4.
The previous meeting of the committee was abruptly stopped on May 31 when the organized labour negotiation team left, as the government and organized private sector refused to increase their offer of N60,000.
This is coming as the first day of the indefinite strike called by organized labour to protest the stalemate in the minimum wage negotiations with the Federal Government and electricity tariff hike, recorded huge success and crippled Nigeria.
The strike from reports across the country seems to have witnessed substantial compliance with aviation, maritime workers all downing tools.
Civil servants both at the federal and state levels have also joined the industrial action.
Abuja-Kaduna train services join strike
The latest to sign in are workers of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS) as the Services did not operate on Monday, June 3, due to the ongoing strike action announced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
There was no train movement from either Idu (Abuja) or Rigasa (Kaduna).
The chairman of Abuja Union of Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS), Comrade Yusuf Kazeem, said no train moved in or out of Abuja today.
Kazeem said: “There is total compliance throughout the system as there is no train movement.
“Passengers were not stranded because we sent a message to inform them that there would be no train service.
“Also, most of our tickets are sold online and the portal was not opened for passengers to buy tickets which was an indication that we were not available for service.
“Some passengers called to complain about their inability to buy tickets and we used the opportunity to inform them that we would be embarking on strike, so passengers did not bother to come to the station.”
He added that workers of AKTS also boycotted work on Monday.
“Our staff too did not come to work because they are aware of the strike,” he said.
Offices, airport, Water Corporation, others shut in Enugu
In Enugu State, aggrieved workers joined the nationwide indefinite strike with the shutting down of government offices, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and other facilities in the state.
Also shut down were the state water corporation, the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA), banks, government hospitals and courts.
As early as 6 am on Monday, the labour unions made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were on ground to carry out enforcement.
Enugu NLC Chairman, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, who led the enforcement exercise, told newsmen that they had shut down all government offices in the state.
He added that all power sector and banks were under lock and key.
Nwigbo further said that they were proceeding to the airport to ensure no flight took off from the airport.
According to him: “Our enforcement team had successfully shut down the State Secretariat, which is now under lock while the team went to Ministry of lands and chased out workers who were there before locking the gate.
“The team is heading to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to stall envisaged activities there”.
He noted there was nationwide power outage as workers were chased out of the national grid by the National Union of Electricity Workers.
Nwigbo advised workers to stay at home and ensure the success of the strike to enable the government yield to Labour’s demands.
Nwigbo, who insisted that the enforcement would continue, appealed to affiliate unions to help out in the enforcement as the leaders went round to monitor adherence.
Ebonyi workers join nationwide strike
Workers in Ebonyi state on Monday, June 3, joined the nationwide strike declared by organised labour.
Workers at the state judiciary complex opposite the old government met a locked gate when they came to work this morning.
READ ALSO: Labour shuts down National Assembly, Federal Secretariat
They were unable to gain entrance and after staying for some time discussing the situation and reading the notices placed by their Unions on the gates, they started dispersing back to their homes.
At the former ministry of finance behind the judiciary, union leaders were seen enforcing the strike by locking the gate.
At the Unity Square Secretariat, it was observed that workers of the federal agencies at the secretariat did not show up for work even though the gate into the complex was open.
A bank staff told The Nation that they did not receive any directives from their head offices and so had to open for business.
“Until we receive directives from our head office, we have to open for business. We can’t do otherwise to avoid disciplinary actions”, he said.
Some secondary schools visited in the morning had teachers and students in attendance.
The staff of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) turned up for work as the hospital was busy.
Medical workers were seen attending to patients at the Hospital until someone came into the Male Orthopedic Ward and rang a bell, announcing, “All staff come outside. We have joined the strike.”
It was at that point that nurses and doctors who were dressing patients’ wounds, hurriedly rounded -off tending to patients.
“You can see we have joined the strike. So, what we are just doing now is to make sure that we take care of our patients before we are officially asked to join. So, during this period, you people would have to manage yourselves,” a nurse said.
Ogugua Egwu, Nigerian Labour Congress, Ebonyi Chapter Chairman said the strike recorded 99 percent compliance.
He noted that workers of the schools were later dispersed by the Organized Labour strike enforcement team.
According to him, workers in various offices both state and federal, who reported for work, were also dispersed.
He noted that the workers did not get the circular on time and hence had to turn up for work but when they saw the enforcement team, they had to leave their offices and return home.
Kano airport, schools, banks shut down
Kano state on Monday, June 3, joined the NLC nationwide strike over the new minimum wage and the hike in the electricity tariff.
Public schools, banks, and the airport were shut down.
However, private school owners in Kano ignored the strike.
A proprietress, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were not joining the strike as they stood to benefit nothing from it.
There was compliance at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), as the unions joined the strike, shutting down the establishment.
A source at the airport said domestic flights were shut down except those for pilgrimages. Many passengers on domestic flights were stranded at the entrance gates.
The unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
Members of the union blocked the entrance of the airport, preventing passengers from gaining entrance.
Cross River State: Courts, schools, state, FG offices shut
The story is the same in Cross River State that witnessed a significant disruption in public services as state and federal government offices were shut down in compliance.
Workers were left stranded and locked out of their workplaces.
At the Cross River State High Court on Mary Slessor Avenue, employees were barred from entering the complex.
Similarly, at the Cross River State College of Health Technology, students, staff, and visitors were denied access.
The federal secretariat, which houses key federal government departments, agencies, and parastatals in Calabar, was also locked.
The new secretariat, which hosts major state ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), was barricaded by labour leaders, leaving workers stranded outside.
Police and other security agencies deployed vans and personnel at major roundabouts to monitor the strike and prevent any potential breakdown of law and order.
Oyo workers report for duties, banks shut in Ibadan
However workers at the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Monday reported for duty.
The secretariat was opened with many of the workers reporting to their duty posts.
Security was also seen around the state Secretariat with a combined security operatives including Police, NSCDC, Amotekun, DSS, Counter Terrorism Unit of the Police were seen with their patrol vans strategically located around the Secretariat.
But banks within Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city were shut down.
Many of the bankers who reported for duties were seen not attending to customers.
Many customers were turned back while many others were referred to the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for withdrawal.
Federal government institutions including the Federal Secretariat, the University College Hospital (UCH) Gates were shut as many staff who arrived for duty early Monday morning were turned back.
Those who arrived before the union leaders arrived were sent out in compliance.
Passengers stranded, flights disrupted, cancelled at Abuja Airport
Domestic flights were disrupted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja on Monday, June 3, due to the indefinite strike. Passengers who were on the ground to board their flights were shut out of the terminal buildings of the airport.
No flight was allowed to take off nor land at the airport at the time of filing this report.
Several flights were cancelled.
An airline, United Nigeria while announcing the disruption of flight said it was due to the strike.
The statement by its management on Monday reads: “We regret to inform you that due to the strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliates, airports across the country have been shut down.
“As a result, none of our scheduled flights has been permitted to depart the airport, significantly affecting our services and operations.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences this may cause to your travel plans. Please rest assured that we are actively monitoring the situation to evaluate its impact on our operations and will provide updates accordingly.”
An Executive of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) who didn’t want to be named confirmed the flight disruption to our reporter.
He said: “No flight has left Abuja and none has landed. All passengers are outside the terminal building. Some passengers have started returning home because some airlines have announced cancellation.”
“NUATE works with instruction and if the mother body asks us to open the airport for flight operations, we will open but without instruction from NLC, the strike is indefinite.
“It has not been easy to manage the anger from passengers. We feel their pain but as it is now, if nothing is done, nothing will be done.
“We are all Nigerians and we know the prices of things now and we know how difficult it has been. So, if those of us who are privileged to work are complaining, how much more are those who are not working.”
He however said international flights were given grace to operate today.
“International flights were given an exemption for today. According to the communique released, they said some flights were already airborne yesterday, so Aviation gave them grace for today but from 00:00 hour midnight Tuesday, International flights will join the strike and it will be more serious.”
The Management of Air Peace in a statement on Monday confirmed the operation of regional and international flights.
The statement reads: “We hereby notify the flying public that due to the ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Labour Union (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), there will be disruptions or possible cancellations of flights across our network today.
“Currently, only our regional and international flights are confirmed to operate today.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and hope for a swift resolution. We regret any inconvenience this may cause to your travel plans and appreciate your understanding and patience.”
Partial compliance in Delta State
There were mixed reactions to the industrial action in Delta State. embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) with mainly government offices complying with the order.
Commercial activities continued unabated within the Asaba metropolis as shops, taxis, markets, and other businesses were open to the public.
However, the federal and state secretariats in Asaba were shut, with only a few workers loitering around the premises.
There was commotion at the entrance of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) after several patients were turned back.
However, doctors on duty call were allowed into the hospital, and patients who had life-threatening health challenges were allowed to access medical treatment.
All banks and public schools were shut for business, leaving many customers stranded.
Customers were observed hanging around the banks, with the gates leading into them under lock and key.
Students who were billed to sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were turned back despite the Delta State Ministry of Primary and Basic Education had earlier postponed indefinitely the examination on account of the strike.
TCN control centre shut down in Osogbo
Members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) shut the gate of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Osogbo, Osun State, and barricaded the entrance to the control centre to ensure compliance with the strike.
The compliance team, led by the chairman of the Lagos Generation and Transmission Council, Comrade Musibau Okunloye, arrived at the TCN gate on Ikirun Road, Osogbo, around 8 am to enforce the NLC directive.
The team used a white private car to block the road even after closing the gate.
Speaking with newsmen, Comrade Okunloye, who led the compliance squad, confirmed that no worker was inside the TCN premises.
According to him, “No worker is inside the offices, we have withdrawn them from service because of a directive from the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress due to those issues that we are agitating for.
“The minimum wage and the hike in electricity tariff, are the two major issues and these two issues concern the generality of Nigerians, not only workers.
“See this tariff hike in electricity, it is too bad. There is nowhere in the world where you will see the industry and ordinary commercial and the residents increasing the same tariff.
“My appeal to the Federal government is to listen to labour and agree with them. Labour is a force to be reckoned with. But in Nigeria today, we are seeing labour, they are nothing. So they should consider labour first in any policy that they have now.”
Similarly, the gate of the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere was shut as security operatives including, Operatives of the Nigerian Police and Civil Defence Corps manned the entrance with guns.
Workers who are on special duties were denied the opportunity to enter to resume their duty posts.
Full list of Unions that have joined strike
The Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria (PASAN) on Monday shut down the National Assembly in compliance with the indefinite strike directive of NLC and TUC.
Also the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Labour, the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) on Monday shut the main gate of the FCT Administration popularly known as the Minister’s Gate, stopping the workers from gaining entrance.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has suspended port operations throughout the country.
Below a full list of every union that has joined the NLC, TUC nationwide strike:
1. The Academic Staff Union of Universities.
2. Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria.
3. The National Union of Electricity Employees.
4. National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees.
5. Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.
6. National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE)
7. Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP)
8. The Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria (PASAN)
9. Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC)