Labour strike: More unions declare support, as actions spread nationwide
…19 unions to join NLC, TUC for enforcement
…NOA appeals to NLC, TUC to suspend nationwide strike
…FG opens negotiation
By Moses Adeniyi and Elvis Omoregie
Industrial action declared by the organised labour has attracted stronger solidarity, as more unions have declared resolve to join the nationwide strike as directed by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
No less than 19 unions as of Tuesday have so far directed their members to comply with the directive of the NLC and the TUC to join the indefinite nationwide strike which commenced Tuesday morning.
The National Executive Council meeting of the labour unions, held Monday, November 13, 2023, in Abuja, resolved to embark on the strike.
On Tuesday, there was partial compliance in a number of States, while other bodies have declared support to further join the force for the nationwide action, despite the ruling of the National Industrial Court restraining a strike action..
The action of labour was in reaction to the alleged failure of the Federal Government to address issues affecting workers, among which are the minimum wage, insecurity, corruption, poor governance, and in particular the recent removal of subsidy on petrol and the controversy over palliative measures.
The unions had made some demands, which the government had allegedly failed to address, particularly over the recent crisis in Imo that resulted in the alleged brutalisation of the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, and other leaders of labour unions.
As at Tuesday, unions that have complied with the labour directives include, the Academic Staff Union of Universities; the Senior Staff Associations of Nigerian Universities; the College of Education Academic Staff Union; the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics; the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees; the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics; the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria; and the National Association of Academic Technologists.
Also were the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees; Nigeria Union Of Local Government Employees; Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria; the Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers; the National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria; the National Associations of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives; the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees.
Others were the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria; the National Union of Electricity Employees; the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers.
Reports on Tuesday revealed there was partial compliance to the directives in a number of States including Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Lagos, Anambra, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kogi among others.
In the States, some institutions such as schools, hospitals, courts, government secretariats and agencies, and in some instances financial institutions had their gates shut to operations.
On similar grounds, the Federal Capital Territory recorded partial compliance as High Court officials complied with the strike.
It was, however, gathered that stronger compliance would be experienced on Wednesday (today) as workers in many States of the Federation, as declared by labour leaders, said the late communication of the directive informed the partial compliance.
Hence, labour leadership in some States have vowed to enforce full compliance to the directives of the total indefinite nationwide strike by Wednesday.
South West
In Lagos, there was partial compliance as railway operations were shut down, while activities in some banks were skeletal.
The Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Mr Segun Esan, told journalists that the union was involved in the strike and no train was running as a result.
“In effect, therefore, all the workers of Nigerian Railway are duty-bound to join the nationwide strike action from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 by staying back at home and away from their offices.
“All the offices, stations, workshops, and entire premises of the corporation remain locked and inaccessible from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, till otherwise directed by the Congress,” he said.
Also, the President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, Mr Oluwole Olusoji, said advice had been sent out to members on compliance.
He said that members had been advised to ensure the safeguard of lives and property from people who might be used to take undue advantage of the situation.
“We will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds,” Olusoji said.
However, checks by our correspondent revealed some government offices opened for official duties.
It was, however, gathered that more government workers would by Wednesday comply with the directive as they have been briefed on the development.
In Ondo, the State secretariat and some government agencies were shut, while at the Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo, it was gathered that members of the organised labour of the institution stormed the campus and dislodged workers of the university who did not comply with the directive.
Also, some commercial banks in Akure, the State capital, it was gathered operated skeletally.
In a statement issued by the state NLC Chairman, Victor Amoko, the TUC Chairman, Comrade Clement Fatuase and the Joint Negotiating Council Chairman, Ademola Olapade, workers in the state were advised to comply with the strike directive appropriately.
The labour leadership said, “The strike is basically on issues that affect the attack on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and non-implementation of some agreement reached with the Federal Government aftermath of fuel subsidy removal.”
In Ogun State, a similar situation held as partial compliance was recorded with offices at the State Secretariat, Courts, and schools shut from operations, while banks largely still had operations.
North
In the North, the nationwide indefinite strike recorded a partial compliance in Kaduna on Tuesday as many workers went about their normal duties.
In Sokoto State, the State Chapter of the NLC and TUC expressed readiness to enforce the nationwide strike in the State.
Workers in Borno State observed a partial compliance with the directive, as the State’s leadership of the organised labour Tuesday, noon, issued a directive for total compliance.
In Kogi, civil servants in the State on Tuesday complied with the directive as the Kogi State Secretariat scarcely had workers Tuesday morning.
Some banks had their doors shut to operations, as labour leaders in the State have vowed to ensure full compliance of bank workers on Wednesday (Today).
The state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Gabriel Amari, said from Wednesday (today) all banks would be shut, stating for health institutions, it was expected all patients be discharged latest Tuesday night as the hospitals will fully comply by Wednesday.
South-East
In the South-East, there was compliance in Anambra State on Tuesday, as the Anambra State Secretariat Complex in Awka, the State capital, showed a few workers who had reported for work standing by the gate on Tuesday morning as the gate was partially closed.
Speaking to journalists, the Anambra State Chairman of the NLC, Humphrey Nwafor, said, “There is strict compliance in Awka as we have gone around public offices to ensure compliance. It is just the banking sector and by tomorrow we are going to go around to ensure compliance. Today, we have gone around government offices to ensure compliance.
“So, I believe by tomorrow, the compliance will be higher, maybe the banks and so on. We will just visit them to see why they are not complying with the directive because they have their union.
“As for health institutions, we are expecting all patients to be discharged latest tonight and the hospitals will fully comply by Wednesday.”
South-South
In the South-South, there was partial compliance in Edo State, as the State Government Secretariat and other institutions were shut down.
The closure of the secretariat was supervised by the Chairman of NLC, Edo State Council, Odion Olaye who promised to ensure that workers across the State comply fully with the directives.
Banks, airport, hospitals, courts, ministries and other government agencies were on Tuesday, shut down completely in Edo State in compliance with the ongoing nationwide strike.
Olaye said they would run in full compliance with the strike.
“I am very delighted with what the Edo State NLC and the TUC have displayed today. We are addressing the press at the premises of the Edo state secretariat.
“It is being shut down since 6am. Edo State High Court and other courts within the metropolis, the banks, airport, NPDC, and others.
“I want to commend the effort of everyone of us for coming out today to cry to God. We have cried to them (Federal Government) two weeks ago and they didn’t listen to our cry and we are crying to God Almighty and we know He will hear our prayers,” Olaye said.
Also speaking, the TUC State Chairman, Alabi Precious said their actions were necessitated by the attack on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and the failure of the government to comply with the memorandum of understanding that was reached with both unions when the fuel subsidy was removed.
NewsDirect monitoring in the state capital, showed that Court premises, deposit money banks, and other financial institutions were under lock and key in strict compliance to the NLC directives.
Activities in government ministries and agencies were also halted by the solidarity strike, while only private businesses open for transactions.
Also, Oredo, Egor and other local government secretariats visited in Benin were in compliance with the strike as workers in their numbers were seen milling round the councils’ premises
In a twist, the Congress of Nigeria University Academics (CONUA), University of Benin (UNIBEN) Chapter, distanced itself from the ongoing NLC strike, describing it as a “one man decision.”
The Chairman of the UNIBEN CONUA, Comrade. Ishaq Osagie-Eweka, who stated this in a chat with journalists in Benin, said that CONUA is not an affiliate of the NLC, hence, its not part of the protest.
“On behalf of CONUA members, UNIBEN chapter, I wish to unequivocally state that we are not an affiliate of NLC, hence, we are not part of the protest.
“I call on our members to go about their lawful duties for the overall best interest of the students.
“As a chapter, we shall not make any public statement regarding the sudden strike arising from one man’s decision, over his ill-conceived protest at Imo State that led to an alleged physical attack,” he said
Dr. Osagie-Eweka, however, maintained that the reason behind CONUA is to promote uninterrupted academic calendar of university education in Nigeria.
He noted that the administration of the Vice Chancellor of University of Benin is in conformity with the union’s objectives of having a smooth and uninterrupted academic calendar in the school.
Recall the government on Monday had warned both the NLC and TUC against embarking on the strike action, saying it would amount to contempt of court.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, in a statement, said the government had obtained a restraining order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria barring the unions from going ahead with the strike.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong, has convened a meeting with labour leaders over the nationwide strike after it appeared the court order failed to deter the labour unions.
The labour unions had on Monday ordered their affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight on November 14, 2023.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja, stating the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”
The NLC and TUC in the letter written to their affiliates, jointly signed by the National Secretary, NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja and the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, Nuhu Toro, said, “In furtherance to the decision of the Joint National Executive Council of NLC and TUC, all workers in Nigeria are hereby directed to withdraw their services effective 12 midnight today, November 13, 2023.
“Consequently, all affiliates and state councils of NLC/TUC are directed to issue circulars for maximum compliance and these circulars be made available to the National Secretariats or posted to the NEC and WC Whatsapp platforms.
“While we shall update you with developments as they unfold, do remain assured of our commitment to Nigerian workers and people.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency had described the planned strike as an attempt to blackmail the government.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Monday, said the planned action is an abuse of privilege and one that contravenes a restraining order by the Industrial Court against the strike.
He noted that Ajaero’s assault in Imo though condemnable is a personal issue that shouldn’t force the whole country into punishment.
The statement had read, ”This decision by the NLC and TUC other than being an ego-tripping move is clearly unwarranted. It is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC.
“We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to punish a whole country of over 200million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.
“While the Federal government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen of Nigeria regardless of his or her social and economic status, it is on record that the Inspector General of Police has ordered an investigation into what happened to Ajaero while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State under whose watch the incident happened has been transferred out of the state.
“Calling out workers on a national strike over a personal issue of a labour leader despite a clear court order against any industrial action amounts to an abuse of privilege. Power at any level should never be used to settle personal scores. Rather, it should be used to promote collective progress and advance national interest.”
The statement added that the strike action is a sinister move to cause further hardship on the masses, noting that the labour movement should not be seen as one that shows disdain against the rule of law.
…NOA appeals to NLC, TUC to suspend nationwide strike
Meanwhile, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has appealed to the organised labour to consider suspending the nationwide strike which commenced on Tuesday.
It also appealed to the labour unions to allow the process of investigation embarked upon by security agencies to be concluded following the reported assault on NLC president, Joe Ajearo, in Imo State.
The Director General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu in a statement on Tuesday, said suspending the industrial action is in the best interest of the economic growth and development of the nation at the moment.
“We are at a point in our National Trajectory that requires a lot of caution and empathy for our people. We appeal for the utmost sense of patriotism which labour Unions stand for,” he said.
The NOA Director-General, advising that there are alternatives to strike actions, encouraged the labour unions to explore other avenues for resolving their grievances with the Federal Government.
He further condemned the assault on the Labour leader, asserting that no Nigerian should endure such treatment at the hands of fellow citizens.
He noted that the Inspector General of Police has intervened by establishing a team to investigate the incident and apprehend the perpetrators.
“The Nigerian economy faces significant setbacks during strike actions. This is not an opportune moment, especially when the federal government is actively implementing policies aimed at revitalizing our economy for national development.
“Declaring an indefinite strike at this critical juncture would impede progress. Incessant strikes affect a country’s growth, posing severe repercussions. Such actions would detrimentally impact our economy and further impoverish Nigerians,” he noted.
