By Olusegun Olanrewaju, Clement Adeyi, Linus Aleke, David Lawani, Cross Udo, Ben Adoga, Nathaniel Zacchaeus, and Kenny Folowosele
The latest war on wage increase in Nigeria peaked yesterday with a cocktail of events which revolted the citizenry and produced a reprieve by way of an agreement between Labour and the Federal Government.
Announcing a temporary truce yesterday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, said both parties have agreed to work together daily for the next seven days to work out the modalities for resolving issues relating to the strike.
He added that while this is ongoing no worker would be victimised on account of participating in the nationwide industrial action.
That was the outcome of the emergency meeting by the tripartite committee brokering the wage crisis, which yesterday concluded that meetings will continue to be held until an acceptable minimum wage is reached.
The meeting had the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, in attendance.
On the government’s side is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi; Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha; among others.
Akume said, “After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, the following resolutions were reached:
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000;
“Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet every day for the next one week to arrive at an agreeable National Minimum Wage.
“Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment; and No worker would be victimised as a result of the industrial action.”
The NLC and TUC will convene today to consult their members and make a decision regarding the nationwide strike.
READ ALSO:STRIKE: FG invites Labour for renegotiations Tuesday
*One day strike ground Nigeria
Earlier yesterday, businesses, airports, universities, hospitals, and power supply were affected.
The Organised Labour said the current minimum wage of N30,000 could no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker.
The labour leaders lamented that not all governors were 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 is meant to be reviewed every five years to meet the contemporary economic demands of workers.
The labour leaders had earlier handed the Federal Government a May 31 deadline for the new minimum wage.
The workers’ organs in the country declared a nationwide strike yesterday over the government committee’s inability to agree on a new minimum wage and reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
During the failed talks with the government, Labour rejected three government offers, the latest being N60,000.
The TUC and the NLC subsequently pulled out of negotiations, insisting on ₦494,000 as the new minimum wage.
Late Sunday talks between labour leaders and the leadership of the National Assembly also failed.
*Blackout
Following the spate of blackouts orchestrated nationwide by the workers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), labour and power workers traded words over the strike.
The NLC accused the TCN of spreading falsehood against the peaceful protesting workers, warning that the company would be held liable for “any injury inflicted on workers by the military.”
The NLC also said that it would not be intimidated or blackmailed by the spread of falsehood against workers by the TCN.
It would be recalled that the TCN had claimed that some of its workers were attacked yesterday by the protesting workers who were enforcing compliance with the directive of the two labour centres, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), for an indefinite strike.
A statement signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, reminded the TCN that it is not the only company impacted by the massive withdrawal of service across the nation by Nigerian workers.
The NLC added that the deployment of military men to its locations by the company was a clear abuse and insult to the military, especially in a democracy.
The statement read: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) categorically states that Nigerian workers will not be intimidated by the management of any organisation or government entity over our rightful decision to withdraw services through the indefinite nationwide strike that commenced earlier this morning.
“The spreading of outright falsehood to mislead the public, instead of working with other stakeholders to resolve the issues raised by Nigerian workers via the NLC and TUC is not helpful in any way.
”It will rather inflame the anger of the suffering masses who are already burdened by the cruel policies of the Federal Government.”
The labour centre also stated, “It is important that we, therefore, address the press statement by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) where they made false claims regarding the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) should understand that the company is not the only company impacted by the massive withdrawal of service across the nation by Nigerian workers.
“It should, therefore, not make it a TCN affair as other organisations also suffer one breakdown in service or the other as a result of the nationwide industrial action.
“The Management of TCN ought to have realised that the NLC and TUC issued a notice to the Federal Government, since the beginning of May 2024, on the issues of non-completion of the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise and passage into Law and the vexatious hike in electricity tariff.
“We had demanded a completion of the wage setting process and a reversal of the hike in electricity tariff back to N66/kwh, without any positive response from the government.”
According to Ajaero, “We had thought that a responsible and proactive management or organisation would have anticipated the impact of any nationwide strike on its operation and would have joined other stakeholders in urging the Federal Government to meet the demands of Nigerian workers.
“Unfortunately, the TCN was not responsive enough and could, therefore, not take adequate steps to assist the government avert the indefinite nationwide strike.
“Perhaps, TCN is not deeply worried about the plight of Nigerian workers who suffer in penury as a result of their poor pay, thus deciding not to take any positive action.
”In any case, we are crying because government policies have impoverished us, and made living exceedingly difficult.”
Continuing, the NLC said, “One wonders whether TCN’s management needs education on the dynamics of industrial action. It is not true that anybody was manhandled by us in any TCN location.
“Maybe, the TCN, in its effort to scuttle the strike, tried to force workers to be at work, not realising the resolve of all workers to stay away.
“Why would the grid not go down when the workers who operate them decide to withdraw their service? That is how it works, and it further demonstrates that without workers, no wheel can turn; no work can take place anywhere.
“Nigerian workers led by the NLC and TUC have exercised due caution and unusual patience in our engagement with our social partners, and this restraint has been grossly abused unfortunately, which has led us to the present impasse.
“Trying to buck past instead of accepting blame and taking necessary steps to put its house in order will not allow the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to make discernible progress.”
The NLC thus pleaded, “We would like the organisation to take adequate measures to ensure that it discharges its responsibilities to Nigerians, especially the electricity sector, instead of dissipating its energy on trying to insult Nigerian workers by its deliberate peddling of falsehood.
“We have been duly informed that the TCN management has resorted to the use of the military in its effort to intimidate and harass workers in its employ who are carrying out their lawful and democratic duties at various TCN plants around Nigeria.
“We warn that the management of TCN would be held liable for any injury inflicted on any worker by their resort to the use of the powers of the military.
”It is also important that we inform TCN that deploying military men to its locations is a clear abuse and insult to the military, especially in a democracy.
“We are sure that members of the military so misused by this deployment are not happy with the management and the authorities who have authorised the deployment.
“The NLC and TUC remain steadfast in their commitments to the emancipation of downtrodden Nigerians and will persist in the struggle for a fair and just living wage, as well as the reversal of the excessive electricity tariff hike.”
Calling on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity with it, the NLC further stated, ”As we demand the implementation of policies that prioritise the well-being of the people, we will not back down and we will not give in to any blackmail, intimidation, or harassment.
“We use this opportunity to appreciate all Nigerians for their solidarity on the first day of this indefinite nationwide engagement and call on them as we move into the second day of this struggle to come out in numbers and join the nationwide industrial action.
“It is our collective struggle and together, we can throw off the shackles that have kept us marooned in the cesspit of massive and excruciating suffering.”
“Let us meet again at the barricades! We can collectively assist the government to govern our nation better in such a way that the majority benefits from their policies and programmes,” the NLC concluded.
*Zero local flights
The strike was marked by the grounding of airports. While some saw it as a very good development ”that hit the hearts of the elite because they are the people that travel by air”, others lamented the inability to travel.
Organised labour, it was gathered, shut down all entry points of aviation agencies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The actions, reports say, severely disrupted flight operations, leaving passengers stranded at the entrances of the nation’s busiest airports.
The disruption followed a directive by aviation unions to their members to withdraw services across all airports in Nigeria, in compliance with a joint directive of NLC and TUC.
*FCT grounded too
Being the first day of the national strike, the nationwide industrial strike recorded total compliance.
This was the recorded case at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as well as other parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Checks by ThisNigeria yesterday indicated that, as early as 7:00 am, the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) had put the main gate of the FCTA as well as all other entrances, especially the pedestrian gates, under lock and key.
Also, there was compliance at the popular Art and Culture office, as the gate was shut against the staff, except union members, when they resumed work in the morning.
However, they insisted that they would not leave until 3:30 pm, to prove that the industrial action was not only crucial but imperative to push for the approval of the workers’ demand.
One of the union members, who preferred anonymity, said: “We shall continue to observe the strike until the demands of our unions are met.
”The government should not play on the sensitivity of Nigerians because people are already agitated. There is hunger in the land. What the unions are demanding to the tune of N415,000 as minimum wage is not something that the government cannot afford. We are solidly behind them.”
At the Ministry of Transportation, there was compliance with the strike as workers and staff deserted their offices.
Some of the security agents who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Thisnigeria that workers came to work, but could not enter their offices because the gate was locked in compliance with the industrial action.
“Oga journalist, please, don’t mention my name. As you can see, everywhere is locked. There is no single worker in the office as you can see. Everywhere is calm and quiet. Nobody is allowed to go in because the strike by NLC is holding,” one of them said.
“We have already complied. There is no need for any argument as to whether it is holding or not. As you can observe, the roads are empty. My concern is that what unions are asking for is not more than what the Federal Government can give them.
A security agent said, ”We want the government to dialogue with them because the nation was already facing enormous difficulties before the strike.”
While speaking on the implications of the industrial action, an economic expert and professor of Economics at the University of Abuja, Prof. Peter Siyan, said:
“The cost of the strike in Nigeria is multifaceted across sectors of the economy. Figures can be assessed, based on the duration and scope of the strike. Some of the costs include; losses in economic output due to a halt in production.
“This will likely lead to direct or indirect losses in the revenue of businesses and internally generated revenues. The strike will lead to temporary job loss which can slow down and affect demand for goods and services.
”It can also slow down economic activities or lead to disruption in academic and business activities. Disruption in the supply chain will cause shortages of food and services. This can also lead to loss of lives, as people may not have access to health facilities.
”The strike can also affect all the sectors of the economy, such as education, health, oil, and mining.
“A survey report by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) estimated the 2020 EndSARS protest to approximately N700 billion losses to economic output,” he said.
On the legal implication of the strike, Siyan said: “Strike in Nigeria, according to the Trade Disputes Act (Cap T8, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) and other labour laws indicates that right to strike in Nigeria is not absolute as the conditions and procedures are expected to be followed.”
The university don added, “There is provision for notice of strike to the minister of labour before embarking on it. Dispute resolution mechanisms are mandatory as provided by the Act for mediation, conciliation, and arbitration.”
When ThisNigeria also visited the Federal Secretariat in Abuja yesterday morning, it was shut. Also, the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, which often witnesses heavy traffic jams in the morning and evening hours, was relatively free as government workers stayed at home.
Meanwhile, most joints in the Nyanya and Jukwoyi axis were bustling with business while workers trooped out to relax since they didn’t go to work.
But while reacting to the economic loss that may have accompanied the industrial action, the Chairman, Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, Enugu State Chapter, Ambrose Igboke, said that what the country had lost so far in terms of the economy is unquantifiable.
He said: “Thank God the telecom industry did not join the strike because that would have been a serious economic sabotage.”
He added: Usually, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is not supposed to join the strike, because they cannot, in all honesty, say that they are fighting for the masses and then kill those they are fighting for in their numbers by refusing to attend to their health needs under the guise of strike.
“All other medical unions are not supposed to be part of the strike because they are essential workers. So, there are categories of workers that should be exempted,” he added.
“But that the airport was grounded was a very good development. This has certainly hit the hearts of the elite because they are the people who travel by air.
“The electricity has also been shut down. That means that the manufacturing sector is suffering, and a lot of people are going to die because there is no power supply in hospitals, especially when the hospital cannot afford to operate on alternative power supply like buying diesel generators.
“A lot of people would also be stranded on the road when they don’t see petroleum products to buy. But this strike is avoidable if the government is serious about the negotiations.
”The NUC and TUC are watching what the political class are doing; they are living large, and this affluent lifestyle is funded from the common patrimony of the nation.
”And the labour is demanding that they should be paid a living wage from same common purse and government is offering them N60,000.”
Igboke, however, expressed his support for the organised labour’s action.
“The fight by Labour, in my opinion, is just, and the government must look into their demand. The nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government towards this ongoing impasse is unacceptable.
”The economy suffered a lot today. We may have lost billions of naira already. If it continues tomorrow, the worst will happen.”
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Emma Ekwe, pitched his tent with the position of the organised labour, saying: “It is legally correct and a right step in the right direction to embark on the strike.”
He told ThisNigeria that there was no subsisting order of the court stopping the labour unions from embarking on the industrial action in perpetuity. “No court can do that,” he said.
He added: “The right to strike is an essential part of freedom of association and is protected under ILO Convention 87.
”Withholding Labour is a crucial negotiating tool during the bargaining process. Its main objective is to change the balance of power between workers and employers.
”The protection of this right is necessary for ensuring a just, stable and democratic society. So, tell me, which court will stop a just cause?
“Most strikes are for increased pay and better working conditions. If the right to strike is removed, corporations would make bigger profits, workers would get lower wages, and working conditions would worsen. Is that what we want?
“Although the industrial action has crumbled activities in courts, it is worth it. Let the right thing be done.”
An economist, Olayanju Alfred, however, faulted the strike: “The government, if I must tell you today, is broken.
”We should not allow those over-bloated figures of billions and trillions you hear every day deceive us.”
“Rather than these old traditions of strike actions, I think there are other ways through which the labour unions can get their dues from the government.
“At the end of the day, the demand for N494,000 as minimum wage might even cause inflation, just as market women with faint information might also latch on to it to cause unnecessary price increases on goods and services. How about that? Has anyone thought of that?
“How about coming up with an enduring resolution that includes a good welfare package and an enduring mortgage plan that would make a worker have shelter on his head without putting much pressure on his take-home loan that will help the children through school without the take-home being affected?
“I think that is doable. Now the labour union, like their European counterparts, should be dynamic in their approach, going forward.
