Electricity workers have shut down the national grid in response to the labor unions' proclamation of an indefinite strike. Continue Reading...
Transmission Company of Nigeria spokeswoman Ndidi Mbah confirmed this on Tuesday in an interview with the Daily Post.
She claims that on Monday at 11:20 a.m., electrical workers, led by the National Union of Electrical Employees (NUEE), withdrew their services, resulting in a blackout that affected the entire country.
She said, "Electricity workers are NLC members; they've complied with organized labor's directive to cease operations on Tuesday."
Recall that on Tuesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress Trade Union Congress announced a statewide indefinite strike, defying a court order that forbade the unions from doing soo.
On Tuesday morning, the NLC posted on Facebook circulars from the unions attesting to their adherence to the directive.
Among the unions represented were the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE).
Among the others are the Maritime Workers' Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the National Union of Electricity Employees, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), and the National Union of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE).
A physical attack on NLC National President Joe Ajaero two weeks ago in Imo State, when he and other NLC members were demonstrating against "non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labor rights," is what sparked the current strike.
In the governorship election held last Saturday, some perceived the demonstration as an attempt to thwart Governor Hope Uzodimma's reelection campaign.
In response to Ajaero's anguish, organized labor announced that a statewide walkout would start today.
However, the National Industrial Court (NIC) prohibited them from going on strike because of the impasse with the Imo State Government.
In a statement released on Monday, the unions ordered employees across the country to stop providing services at midnight, notwithstanding the court ruling.
The unions released a joint statement saying, "All workers in Nigeria are hereby directed to withdraw their services effective 12:00 midnight today, November 13, 2023, in furtherance to the decision of the Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC and TUC."
As a result, "all NLC/TUC affiliates and state councils are directed to issue circulars for maximum compliance, and these circulars be posted to the NEC and CWC Whatsapp Platforms or made available to the National Secretariats."
Organized labor encouraged members to "remain assured of our commitment to Nigerian workers and people" while assuring them that more details about the nationwide strike would be forthcoming.
In the meantime, the Presidency said that union strike action amounted to a flagrant disregard for the law and a disrespect for the court system in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Advisor to the President on Information and Strategy.
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