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•We did it to allow government respond to our demands – Labour
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
Organised Labour’s decision to suspend its indefinite nationwide strike after the first day has sparked widespread backlash and disappointment among Nigerians.
The strike declared to protest increase in electricity tariff and failure to reach an agreement on new minimum wage for workers had garnered significant support from the populace before it was abruptly suspended.
On Monday night, the Federal Government met with the labour leaders where both parties reached a tentative agreement. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress ( TUC), afterwards, held a joint meeting, where they both agreed to shelve the strike for the next one week.
Labour explained that it relaxed the strike to allow the Federal Government commit to a concrete and acceptable National Minimum Wage; take definitive steps to reverse the electricity tariff hike back to N66/kwh and abolish the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into Bands.
In a communique issued after a joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja and signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and TUC President, Festus Osifo, the labour centers asked their members to await further directive as they monitor the Federal Government’s response to their demands.
According to the communique, the NEC-in-Session expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s refusal to reverse the electricity tariff hike, but acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to commit to a minimum wage higher than N60,000.
The labour centers said the NEC-in-session had resolved that there is a greater need to create the right ambience for negotiation to continue unhindered.
It, therefore, mandated the NLC and TUC national leadership to continue to maintain open channels of communication with the Federal Government to negotiate and secure favourable outcomes for Nigerian workers and people.
“The NEC-in-Session expresses 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.
“The NLC and TUC remain 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 document further stated.
In spite of the explanation, many Nigerians have expressed frustration, feeling that the labour unions caved in too easily without securing concrete concessions from the government.
The Labour Party (LP) lampooned the organised labour for prematurely calling off its indefinite nationwide strike, saying the action reflected a lack of seriousness of the party of the unions.
LP National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, in a post on his twitter handle, yesterday, said: “Suspension of the NLC/TUC nationwide strike too early. It does not show seriousness. Workers must sustain at least three days of industrial action. We must force the government to be sensible. Has the government reversed any decision?”
Social media platforms have also been flooded with criticisms, with many accusing the unions of betraying the interests of the working class.
Some questioned the motives behind the abrupt suspension, leading to speculations of backdoor negotiations and compromises with the government.
Taking to his X page, @Noblesaves wrote: “@NLCHeadquarters and @The_TUC have become irrelevant in Nigeria. Nigerians anticipated labour to stand firm until today’s end before they could garner mass support. As anticipated, they failed to exceed our expectations.”
@Kalsoon2u wrote:”NLC and TUC never looked serious with their action from the set… I doubt if they get what they demanded…”
“NLC and TUC, be serious for once; many people depend on you. No one wants the country’s economy to be paralysed by a strike, but sometimes action is necessary to compel the government to do the right thing. Stand your ground until everything is signed and implemented,” @Ayemojubo wrote.
@Kahnemanism also wrote: “The last time I was betrayed doing politics in Ibadan against Adedibu boys, I stopped anything with that game. I don’t avoid politics because it is dangerous, but its level of betrayal is overwhelming. Kudos to NLC for playing the game, and for playing the public once again.”
On Instagram, capry_sunn 3h said: “Kept the whole country in darkness to later settle for less? abeg.”
Although others like @josmine061, think labour did the right thing by calling off the strike.
He said: “It is the right thing to do, my leader.
“The @NLCHeadquarters they were open for negotiation and the Federal Government has agreed to negotiate a price above their previous 60k. So, the minimum wage now will definitely be between 60k to 494k.”
