The Proposed Nationwide Strike by the Labour Union Begins Today

In response to the severe economic hardships plaguing the nation in the aftermath of subsidy removal by the federal government, the Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened to ground the economy by calling for a two-day nationwide warning strike.

Accordingly, the banking industry, civil society organisations, and workers’ unions have all expressed their support for this measure as they work together to combat the worsening economic crisis facing the country.

 

Yesterday, the banking and insurance industry’s umbrella union, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, announced that its members would participate in the strike, effectively shutting down financial activities across Nigeria.

 

The General Secretary of NUBIFIE, Mr Mohammed Sheikh, released a statement explaining why the organisation felt it was necessary to join the NLC’s two-day warning strike: to get the government’s attention about the country’s dismal economic situation.

 

In accordance with the National Labour Committee’s (NLC) two-day strike directive, the NUBIFIE leadership has announced that all banks will be closed today, Tuesday, September 5, and tomorrow, Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

 

“The directives are imperative to get the needed attention of the government and to warn it against interfering in the internal affairs of unions instead of addressing the punishing economic circumstances we find ourselves in,” the statement emphasised.

 

Mr. Aboderin Olusola, Senior Deputy General Secretary of NUBIFIE, spoke with our correspondent and reaffirmed NUBIFIE’s support for the NLC’s cause, noting the importance of unity among labour unions in these difficult times.

 

According to Olusola, “It was NLC’s directive to all the industrial unions, and NUBIFIE had no choice but to issue that circular to all our members and management of banks and insurance companies in Nigeria.”

 

The United Action Front of Civil Society has added its voice to the growing chorus of criticism by endorsing the NLC’s two-day warning strike.

 

Wale Okunniyi, the United Action Front of Civil Society’s Head of the National Coordinating Centre, released a statement expressing the group’s outrage at the hardships imposed on Nigerians as a result of the government’s decision to eliminate fuel subsidies and increase the price of premium motor spirit.

 

The Nigerian Labour Congress has been given support for their two-day warning strike by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.

 

The MWUN’s Head of Media, John Ikemefuna, announced this in a letter titled “Compliance to the Nigerian Labour Congress directive on a nationwide two-day warning strike” that was sent out yesterday.

 

Following what it called the Tinubu-led federal government’s failure to dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labour on efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit, commonly referred to as petrol, on the “poor masses,” the NLC announced Friday that it would begin a two-day warning strike beginning on Monday.

 

Adewale Adeyanju, president general of MWUN, called for a two-day nationwide strike.

 

When asked about the reasoning behind the strike, he said, “This decision is due to the federal government’s refusal to engage and reach an agreement with the organised labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and the generality of the Nigerian citizens.”

 

The MWUN, as an NLC affiliate, “is obliged to comply with the directive” and “has consequently instructed all our members in all ports, jetties, terminals and oil and gas platforms nationwide to participate on the two days total shut down warning strike as directed by the NLC.”

 

Affiliated state chapters

 

Unions representing workers in all fifty states are also bracing themselves.

 

The Abia State NLC chapter criticised the state government for being insensitive to the plight of its members.

 

However, it has also urged all state affiliate unions to join the national directive on the warning strike and show the government that enough is enough.

 

The state chairman, Pascal Iheme Nweke, expressed disappointment in the state government’s handling of issues affecting workers in the state while speaking to journalists in Umuahia yesterday.

 

The Abia NLC claims that the state’s government and workers have a tense relationship because it routinely forms committees regarding workers in the state without consulting with labour.

 

In a similar vein, the NLC’s National Executive Council has instructed organised labour in Kogi state to hold a warning strike for two days.

 

In a news bulletin signed by Chairman Gabriel Amari and Secretary Owoeye Oladipupo and distributed in Lokoja yesterday, the union said Kogi State, as a part of the country, was not immune to the prevailing national sentiments, especially in light of the widespread hardships and deprivation that have befallen our citizens.

 

The federal government’s inability to put in place a system to deal with widespread suffering in the country was investigated by the council, as stated in the report.

 

“Moreover, it took into account the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard for engaging with national stakeholders through the channels of social dialogue, a commitment it had solemnly declared during the president’s inauguration address on May 29, 2023.

 

FG is ignored by the NLC.

 

The Federal Government has issued an appeal as the strike’s start date approaches, urging organised labour to rethink its planned two-day nationwide warning strike.

 

Academic Staff Union of Universities, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Teaching Staff of Universities, and NUBIFIE have all expressed support for the strike, prompting this appeal.

 

Simon Bako Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, emphasised that the government has already taken steps to lessen the blow of the nationwide removal of fuel subsidies.

 

He emphasised the need to keep the workplace peaceful and prevent strikes that could derail government initiatives.

 

Because “a two-day warning strike would be detrimental to gains already made in securing a better future for Nigerian workers and citizens at large,” Lalong urged the Nigeria Labour Congress’s leadership to call off their planned strike.

 

The Minister called an emergency meeting to try to prevent the two-day warning strike that the NLC had already announced, but the NLC’s national leadership declined to attend.

 

The Trade Union Congress leadership, headed by President Festus Osifo, was the only group to show up for the 5:32 p.m. start time of a 3 p.m. meeting.

 

Our correspondent was told by a member of the NLC’s national leadership that the union decided to skip the meeting because ongoing negotiations could delay a strike.

 

There will be no stopping the strike. The decision to go on strike would have been delayed if the leadership had shown up to the meeting. It would have been akin to bargaining, really.

 

Nigerians mutter

 

The NLC’s call for a nationwide strike is being heard by many people in Nigeria who are struggling financially.

 

Unions, civil society, and the general public have all shown their support, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction with government policies that are seen to be making people’s lives worse.

 

In the coming days, the nation’s response to its ongoing economic turmoil will be shaped by the drama of protest and appeal that will play out on the streets and in the halls of power.