A video clip has emerged online showing NLC president, Joe Ajaero explaining why organised labour suspended the nationwide strike on Tuesday.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG in the video who spoke in pidgin English said already 100percent has been secured as minimum wage and any other thing is an increase.
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Organised Labour on Tuesday relaxed the indefinite nationwide strike declared on Monday, for one-week, to allow continuation of negotiations.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) made this known in a communique issued at the end of a joint National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
It would be recalled that labour had declared an indefinite nationwide strike, midnight of June 2, to press home its demands of non conclusion of national minimum wage fixing and non reversal of hike in electricity tariff.
The communique was jointly signed by Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President and Mr Festus Osifo, President of TUC.
Ajaero said NEC relaxed the indefinite strike, following the resolution by the federal government to offer more than the N60,000, it put forward to the tripartite committee.
According to Ajaero, in view of the deliberations, the NEC-in-session resolved that there is a greater need to create the right ambience for negotiation to continue unhindered.
“The indefinite nationwide strike action is therefore relaxed for one week from today to allow the federal government commit to a concrete and acceptable national minimum wage;.
“Also to take definite steps to reverse the electricity tariff hike back to N66/kwh and abolish the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into Bands.
“The NLC and TUC National Leadership are mandated to continue to maintain open channels of communication with the Federal Government to negotiate and secure favourable outcomes for Nigerian workers and people.
“All affiliate unions and State Councils are therefore, directed to relax the indefinite nationwide strike and return to their respective workplaces immediately,” he said.
Ajaero added that the NEC-in-session expressed profound gratitude to Nigerian workers and the general public for their unwavering support and solidarity in this critical struggle for improved living and working conditions.
He said that the NLC and TUC remained committed to “pursuing all necessary actions to protect the rights and welfare of all Nigerian people and workers as we urge all to await further directives while the negotiation continues.”
The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) says Nigerian workers deserve living wage in order to cope with prevailing economic realities and render quality service to the nation.
The Lagos State Chairman of ZLP, Mr Adekunle Mode-Adenipebi, said this in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.
Mode-Adenipebi, who was also the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Lagos in the 2023 elections , said that the government must go beyond minimum wage to living wage for workers.
He was reacting to impasse between the organised labour and the Federal Government on the new minimum wage for workers, which led to the strike declared by labour unions on Monday.
“There is nothing wrong for the Federal Government to provide workers living wage far above the much talked-about minimum wage, given the inflation rate at the moment.
“The Organised Labour is right by not agreeing with the N60,000 new minimum wage proposed by the government.
“What can N60,000 buy in the market today for a young couple not to talk of a family of five?
“We plead with the government to listen to workers and meet the demands of labour .This is the way to go for workers to breathe,” he said.
The chairman noted that there is hardship in the land and that the per capital income had dropped drastically.
Mode-Adenipebi added: “The government must step up its game and make sure that the standard of living is elevated.
“We want to plead with the government to consider not only the workers in the organiser sector by increasing their salaries, but those who are not workers.
The chairman, however, urged labour to also fight for the welfare of workers not in the organised sector.
“The Nigerian workers should go beyond the organised sector. What is the labour doing to make sure that workers in this sector also live well?
“We still have many teachers with good degree certificates collecting N40,000 and below in private schools, factories and others.
“It is high time the NLC and TUC considered the highly oppressed workers out of the organised sector and defend them,” he said.
He urged the government to come up with policies to alleviate the hardships faced by workers out of the organised sector.
Despite earlier pleas by the government for consideration, the organised labour on Monday declared an indefinite strike to push for a new national minimum wage for workers.
The industrial action, which has been suspended, followed a series of unsuccessful negotiations involving the the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and government’s representatives .
Representatives of labour had on May 28 walked out of the Tripartite Committee meeting on minimum wage after the government increased its offer from N57,000 to N60,000.
The government and the Organised Private Sector had initially proposed ₦48,000, then ₦54,000 and N57,000, which were all rejected by labour.
The organised labour had also proposed ₦615,000 as new minimum wage, but later came down to ₦497,000 and then to ₦494,000, to reflect the current rising cost of living.
Meanwhile, following the Federal Government expression of commitment to raising the proposed minimum wage of N60,000 at a meeting with labour leaders on Monday evening, the organised has just announced suspension of the industrial action for a week.
Domestic airports, Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal II operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd., and the General Aviation Terminal I managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria have opened their gates.
On Tuesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspended their two-day industrial action.
The strike which commenced on Monday was called to protest the failure of the Federal Government to approve new minimum wage by May 31 as well as its failure to reverse the hike in electricity tariff.
Details to follow…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the industrial strike action.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports organised labour embarked on the strike on Monday to press home their demand for payment of living wage in the country.
However, following intervention by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the labour unions have agreed to suspend the strike for negotiations to continue.
President of TUC, Festus Osifo said on Tuesday in Abuja that the strike has been suspended. Osifo added that a communique would be issued shortly.
It was gathered that labour agreed to suspend the strike for five (5) days, following a joint extraordinary national executive council meeting of the NLC and TUC.
Deputy National Secretary of the Association of Air Transport Association of Nigeria (ATTSAN), Francis Akinjorin also confirmed that the action was momentary.
“It is a suspension; it is not a call-off. We are relaxing the action for one week and not suspending the strike, to give the federal government tlone week grace and test their sincerity,” Akinjorin said.
Details shortly…
The Yobe chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has dissociated itself from the ongoing nationwide strike embarked by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
The association’s Chairman, Dr Abubakar Mala, told newsmen in Damaturu on Monday that the state’s NMA is not part of the strike and will continue to provide medical services to patients.
He said “we are not joining the NLC strike , we are fully attending to patients, our clinics are open, and we have been in the surgery theater and everywhere, attending to the sick.”
Mala added that the NMA’s decision to distance itself from the strike was to ensure uninterrupted medical attention to residents.
He, therefore, urged residents to go to the hospital to access care as doctors, nurses and other health workers are available to attend to them.
Aviation activities were shut down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja on Monday following the nationwide strike declared by organised labour over minimum wage.
Mr Samuel Wuyep, Chairman of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Abuja chapter, confirmed this in Abuja.
According to him, The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had declared the strike action to press home their demand on implementation of new minimum wage for workers.
He said the NLC and TUC had directed aviation service providers, airline operators and all aviation workers nationwide to embark on strike from early hour of June 3.
“The strike has a lot of impact here. Airport is not a place you are going to joke about, at all.
“All airports all over the federation are shutdown. Though, we don’t have a clear dichotomy between military and civil aviation but the civil aviation operators have shutdown their services.
“Passengers that came into the airport were stranded outside. They were not allowed to gain access into the terminal building. Even if they come in, nobody is there to attend to them, “ he said.
Wuyep said that all the service providers were closed down and services of aviation workers had been temporarily stopped.
He added that other affiliates and the assistant agencies within and outside the airport were equally observing the strike.
“So, we are on top of the game. We are hoping that the government will do something so that everybody will go back to his working place and everything will be normalised,“ he said.
According to him, medical workers in NAIA were equally gradually shutting down their services.
Wuyep said that some staffers that went to the clinic were sent back, adding that all agencies under the NLC and NTC were in total compliance with the strike.
He said the passengers that came were calm and observed the rules of the game, as nobody harassed or chased them away.
Wuyep, however said that only the international flights were given the leverage to land for now.
“Right now, the international flights are given the leverage to land. Already, they are coming from far destinations, and the time difference between Nigeria and such countries is something you cannot reverse.
“Most of them were airborne in Nigerian airspace before the commencement of the strike. Therefore, we will definitely allow them to land. They are landing and departing.
“But, the grace of today is given to them. After today, by tomorrow, all their services too will be grounded. So we expect the Federal Government to do something,“ he said.
Similarly, flight operations and other activities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal II (MMA2), were grounded on Monday, following a nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Airport unions were seen manning the entrance of the airport as stranded passengers stood by at the MMA2.
Mr Francis Akinjole, General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, said activities at the international wing, would also be grounded on Tuesday.
He had earlier told passengers to return to their various activities if they had any, adding there was no sign that the strike would be called off soon.
”We just do not have any choice than to embark on what we are doing and it is clear.
”If the Federal Government signed the new minimum wage today we will leave but if they do not we are starting here today as the commencement day.
”Tomorrow, like we said in our notice to the general public, we are going to ground activities at the international wing.
”The only reason why we are not starting the international wing today is because we are aware that some flights were already airborne, so we are not as insensitive as some people might want think,” he said.
Akinjole said the union was prepared for the length of time the strike would last, but called on the federal government to consider the yearnings of Nigerians.
”We are prepared to go the whole length. Government should pay the Minimum Living Wage that is what they should do,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Patrick Evuarhehe, National Chairman of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) branch of the Association of Nigeria Airport Professional (ANAP), said that no skeletal activity was permitted.
Evuarhehe said that it was a fight for all and not of selfish interests because ‘an injury to one, is an injury to all’.
”Passengers that were here earlier, joined us in this strike because they are in solidarity with us. You understand.
”An injury to one is an injury to all, so, every passenger you see are all labour workers, they are actually traveling from here to one assignment or the other.
”As it is now, they know that my pain is their pain, so it is very important for them to join the struggle that is why you see many of them around.
“They are sitting patiently, doing what they are supposed to do because it is very important for us to get this right at least for once in Nigeria,” he said.
Also, Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) said that the action was a signal to the federal government.
Abioye said that President Bola Tinubu, during his campaign, promised workers a living wage which he had yet to fulfill.
”When President Tinubu was campaigning two years ago, he promised Nigerian workers what is called a living wage.
”We can all see that even the proposed N60,000, cannot take anybody from his house to the market,” he said.
A passenger, Ms Desire Joseph, who planned to fly to Calabar with Ibom Air, said that she was confused and hopeful that the strike would be called off before the day ends.
Also, Mr Alabi Musibau, an Aero Contractor passenger, who planned to attend a conference in Abuja said that the strike was uncalled for.
He said that the fight for the minimum wage increment was a spoiler as this could further increase the prices of goods in the market.
Some other passengers who stood by with their luggages, out of frustration, said they were too angry to talk.
At the General Aviation Terminal I, managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN activities were also grounded.
NLC had earlier notified the public of an indefinite national wide strike beginning June 3.
In a letter signed by four aviation unions; ATSSSAN, ANAP, NAAPE and NUATE on July 2, notified operators and the general public that it would fully support the NLC in the action at Lagos airports.
The letter had said that the MMA2 would be fully grounded while the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) would begin on Tuesday..
Aviation agencies, NAMA; FAAN and others were under lock and key with police presence.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disclosed receiving coded information that there are plans to deploy soldiers at various plants of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) around the country.
This is coming after organised labour shut down the national grid at about 2.19 am on Monday, resulting in black out nationwide.
“We have been duly informed that the TCN management has resorted to the use of the military in its effort at intimidating and harassing workers in its employ who are carrying out their lawful and democratic duties at various TC 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 on 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,” a statement released by Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC president on the matter reads.
The NLC president in the statement, stressed that the TCN made false claims regarding shut down of the national grid, adding that the company is not the only one impacted by the massive withdrawal of service across the nation by Nigerian workers.
The statement reads in full below:
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) categorically states that Nigerian workers will not be intimidated by the management of any organization 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.
“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 (NC) 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.
“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 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 decided not to take any positive action. In any case, we are crying because government policies have impoverished us and made living exceedingly difficult.
“One wonders whether TN’s management needs education on the dynamics of industrial action? It is not true that anybody was manhandled by us in any TCN location. May be, 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 any where.
Nigerian workers led by the NLC and TUC has 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 pass instead of accepting blame and taking necessary steps to put its house in order will not allow the transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) make discernible progress.
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 at intimidating and harassing workers in its employ who are carrying out their lawful and democratic duties at various TC 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 on 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 remains steadfast in its commitment 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. We call on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity with us as we demand the implementation of policies that prioritize 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 programs”.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the total and indefinite industrial strike action commenced by workers across the country on Monday is still ongoing.
This is despite an emergency meeting of the tripartite committee on national minimum wage convened by the federal government and held into the night at the residence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the tripartite committee on national minimum wage is made up of the federal and state governments, the private sector and organised labour with 37 members.
Following commencement of the nationwide strike, the federal government convened the meeting with labour with a view to ending the strike action.
“Until we hear from our organs at our meeting scheduled for today 4th June, we are still on strike,” the NLC stated shortly after the meeting convened by the federal government at the Akume’s residence.
After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, certain resolutions were reached at the meeting, while the federal government assured that no worker would be victimised as a result of the industrial action.
Part of the resolution, it was gathered, is that President Bola Tinubu has made a commitment to pay a national minimum wage that is higher than the N60,000 currently presented by the representatives of the FG in the tripartite committee.
Also, as an outcome of the meeting, the tripartite committee is to meet everyday for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable national minimum wage with labour undertaking to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has cautioned the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), against disrupting the ongoing transportation of Nigeria pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON, Mrs Fatima Usara, gave the advice in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Usara also empahaised the need for the NLC to respect the sensitivity of “this divine devotion and not to encroach on its movement”.
“Information reaching NAHCON indicates that there are plans by a section of the NLC to disrupt the ongoing Hajj operations.
“This is coming in spite of the initial understanding that Hajj flights would not be affected.
“The commission appreciates concern of the NLC over the welfare of its members, however, NAHCON wants it to respect the sanctity of Hajj as a religious obligation which Muslims do not take lightly.
“The commission advises NLC to apply caution and not to tamper with the Hajj conveyance as a courtesy to the Muslim faith.
“Disruptive action against the smoothness of the operation will deprive intending muslims their fundamental right to worship considering the limited time left before closure of Jeddah and Madinah airports for the pilgrimage,” the statement added.
No fewer than 65,500 Nigerians are expected to perform the 2024 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
NAHCON records indicate that the commission has so far transported 38,805 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in 92 flights.