Organised Labour threw the nation into darkness after shutting down the national grid in the wee hours of yesterday.
It was the first day of the indefinite strike it called to protest the stalled talks on minimum wage.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced on Friday a “total indefinite strike” over the failure of the Tripartite Committee to agree on a new minimum wage.
The government offered N60,000, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) stood at N57,000 while Labour is asking for N494,000.
Local flights were prevented from taking off at airports in Lagos and Abuja.
Many passengers were stranded at the airports, prompting airlines to issue advisories on the next line of action.
Workers were prevented from entering their offices at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, the National Assembly and some other government offices.
Courts were shut in the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the country.
In Lagos, the gates of the state secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja were shut to prevent willing workers from accessing the facility.
Those who found their way in were chased out by strike enforcers.
It was a mixed grill in the health sector. While workers at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) shunned the strike, many patients were stranded in public hospitals in Abuja, following compliance with the action.
Many banks in Abuja did not open for business but some operated in Lagos, especially on Lagos Island.
The car park in Marina (Central Lagos) was filled, an indication that work was in full swing.
Traffic was normal in the commercial city with motorists and commuters going about unmolested.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), according to its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, said the shutdown occurred at about 2.19 am on Monday.
She said: “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby informs the general public that the Labour Union has shut down the national grid, resulting in a blackout nationwide.
“The national grid shutdown occurred at about 2.19am this morning, 3rd June 2024.
“At about 1:15 am this morning, the Benin Transmission Operator under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN reported that all operators were driven away from the control room and that staff that resisted were beaten while some were wounded in the course of forcing them out of the control room and without any form of control or supervision, the Benin Area Control Center was brought to zero.
“Other transmission substations that were shut down by the labour union include the Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba and Osogbo Transmission Substations. Some transmission lines were equally opened due to the ongoing activities of the labour union.
“On the power generating side, power generating units from different generating stations were forced to shut down some units of their generating plants.
“The Jebba Generating Station was forced to shut down one of its generating units while three others in the same substation subsequently shut down on very high frequency.
“The sudden forced load cuts led to high frequency and system instability, which eventually shut down the national grid at 2:19am.
“At about 3.23am, however, TCN commenced grid recovery, using the Shiroro Substation to attempt to feed the transmission lines supplying bulk electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. The situation is such that the labour union is still obstructing grid recovery nationwide.
“We will continue to make effort to recover and stabilise the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centres nationwide.”
NLC, in a statement by its president Joe Ajaero, denied TCN’s allegations that it forcefully shut down the national grid.
He said in a statement: “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, 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.”
NLC said it would not be intimidated, adding that TCN was “trying to insult Nigerian workers by its deliberate peddling of falsehood.”
Govt, Labour back to negotiating table
The Federal Government and NLC returned to the negotiating table in a bid to resolve the logjam.
The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and eminent leaders have intervened in the labour crisis.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also made a passionate appeal to the labour leaders to embrace dialogue instead of paralysing the economy.
He said the government was looking at how to reduce the cost of living alongside an affordable minimum wage, adding that its doors are open for negotiation.
After about three hours of shuttles and diplomacy, all the parties went back to the negotiation table at about 4pm.
But before the resumption of negotiation, Idris briefed reporters in Abuja alongside the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Tope Ajayi
Idris reminded the labour unions that the new minimum wage is not only for public workers but also affects the private sector.
He said the cost implications of a N494,000 minimum wage being demanded by labour could lead to job loss, especially in the private sector.
He appealed to the union to return to the negotiating table to fashion out a realistic and sustainable wage.
The minister said the government was bothered about the shutdown of critical infrastructure by the striking workers.
He said: “This is a heartfelt and deeply considered appeal to the Labour Unions to continue along the path of negotiations with the Federal and state governments under the auspices of the Tripartite Committee that has been established to fashion out a new, realistic minimum wage for the Nigerian people.
“As a government, we are desirous of a peaceful outcome, and we will do everything to make this happen.
“Yesterday, the leadership of the National Assembly met with the unions.
“The National Consumer Credit Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) are additional significant demonstrations of a determination to bring relief to the people of Nigeria.
“We want the Labour unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that they fully deserve, will not come only in the form of increased wages.
“It will also come as efforts to reduce the cost of living, and to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of Nigerians.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) is firmly committed to doing what is right, reasonable and sustainable regarding these minimum wage negotiations.
“We call on the Labour unions to reciprocate this gesture in the interest of the nation.”
CAN urges peaceful resolution
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged the NLC and TUC to embrace dialogue in the interest of the nation.
CAN said the legitimate demands of the labour unions for a fair and adequate minimum wage are understandable and justified.
A statement by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh said: “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has viewed with great concern the ongoing strike action by the NLC and TUC over the minimum wage impasse and wishes to advise as follows.
“Nigerian workers deserve a living wage that meets their basic needs and ensures their well-being.
“At the same time, I am acutely aware of the devastating impact that this strike is having on our economy and the most vulnerable members of our society.
“The disruption of essential services and the economic strain on families are causing widespread distress and hardship.
“I strongly urge both the government and labour unions to return to the negotiating table with a renewed commitment to finding a mutually acceptable solution. It is crucial that we prioritise dialogue and compromise to resolve this impasse peacefully.
“The path to resolving this crisis lies in mutual respect and understanding, where both parties can work together to achieve a fair outcome”.
He appealed to the government to earnestly consider the plight of workers and take decisive action to implement a living wage.
Falana: NLC, TUC leaders breached no court order
Activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) rose in defence of NLC President Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart Festus Osifo.
He said the duo breached no law, disobeyed court orders nor breached the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act in any manner whatsoever and howsoever by calling workers out on strike.
Falana, who is counsel to the two Labour centres, stated this in his response to a letter addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The lawyer insisted that Ajaero and Osifo did no wrong by participating in the ongoing strike.
Falana noted that the AGF, in his letter dated June 1, claimed that the ongoing industrial action by the two Labour centres for a new national minimum wage constitutes disobedience of the orders of the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal.
Falana said his clients had always given more than a 15-day notice of an industrial action or strike in line with the provisions of section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act.
He added: “But upon the receipt of the notice of the strike the Federal Government had always rushed to the National Industrial Court to procure an ex parte order to restrain workers from embarking on any form of strike or protest whatsoever.
“Even though the offices of the NLC and TUC and their counsel are a stone’s throw from the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Government has consistently procured ex-parte orders to stop strikes on the basis of self-induced urgency.
“Thus, the National Industrial Court has through the issuance of ex parte orders obliterated the right of Nigerian workers to participate in any strike contrary to the clear provisions of the Trade Union Act and Trade Disputes Act.
“Our clients have not committed any offence by participating in the ongoing strike and cited a decided case of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) to support his arguments.
“In Suit No. NICN/ABJ/ 270/2022 between Federal Government & Anor vs. Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the National Industrial Court held that the penalty for embarking on industrial action in Nigeria is the forfeiture of salaries or wages during the duration of the strike.
“According to the presiding Judge, BB. Kanyip PNIC, all the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act permit the ‘no work, no pay’ rule; such that an employer is legally permitted not to pay strikers salaries or wages for the period of the strike they undertook.”
On alleged disobedience of court orders, Falana reminded the AGF of the pendency of the interim injunctive order granted on 5th June 2023 in SUIT NO: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 – FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & ANOR V. NIGERIAN LABOUR CONGRESS & ANOR, which order restrained both NLC and TUC from embarking on any industrial action/or strike of any nature.
“With respect, the order does not refer to the ongoing strike emanating from the trade dispute over the new minimum wage.
“In any case, the case has been amicably resolved as parties and their counsel have signed the terms of settlement drawn up by your good self.
“As you are no doubt aware, the case of Federal Government v NLC has been resolved as the parties and their counsel have signed the terms of settlement drawn up by your good self.
“So, our clients cannot be accused of contravening the terms of the interim order of the National Industrial Court. Hence, the Federal Government has not filed any contempt proceedings against our clients in the National Industrial Court.”
“You also referred to the case of Oshiomole & Anor. v FGN (2004) LEPLR-5188(CA) and proceeded to give the impression that the Court of Appeal had prohibited workers from embarking on strike.
“With respect, that interpretation does not represent the decision of the Court of Appeal.
“Indeed, their Lordships unanimously upheld the right of workers to strike on matters arising from trade disputes. To that extent, our clients are on terra firma in leading the current industrial action over the new minimum wage.”
Falana recalled that the AGF once assured the nation’s trade unions that the Government would “continue to adopt a conciliatory approach to resolving matters pertaining to workers and citizens welfare in the spirit of collective bargaining.”
“On our part, we have advised our clients to cooperate with the members of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in the ongoing negotiation meetings in the interest of industrial harmony in the country.
“While appreciating your intervention in the industrial action, we are compelled to advise the members of the Tripartite Committee to speed up the negotiations to enable our clients to call off the strike,” the letter stated.
