Yesterday, the nationwide strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) witnessed varying levels of compliance across different states. While certain states experienced a complete shutdown with the closure of banks, public schools, and courts, among other establishments, some states witnessed partial compliance, and a few states did not comply with the strike directives. Lagos, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Kebbi, and Edo were among the states where the directives of the labor bodies were implemented.
In Kano, banks and schools were shut as the government suspended qualifying examinations. Also schools were shut in Osogbo, the Osun State capital with the police beefing up security to avoid breakdown of law and order
In Imo, there was partial compliance as banks opened for business.
However, workers shunned the industrial action in Enugu and Abuja, with Labour leaders saying they would ensure strike in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, today.
The two unions in the nation’s public universities disagreed over the strike. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, asked its members to join the strike, the ‘ Congress of University Academics, CONUA, directed its members to shun the action.
This is coming as the Organised Labour pooh-poohed claims by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, that the ongoing nationwide strike was an ego trip intended to ‘blackmail the government.’ It insisted that the strike was not a personal matter affecting the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, as alleged.
On November 13, 2023, the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the labour unions, in Abuja, resolved to embark on the strike due to the alleged failure of the Federal Government to address issues affecting workers such as the minimum wage, insecurity, corruption, and poor governance.
Also, both unions said they had made some demands, which the government allegedly failed to address following the recent crisis in Imo that resulted in the brutalisation of Ajaero, and other members of the labour unions.
Apart from the brutalisation of Ajaero, other labour leaders, and journalists, other grievances of Organized Labour include outstanding salary arrears, unjust declaration of 11,000 workers as ghost employees, unsettled gratuities, non-compliance of N30,000 minimum wage act, and declaration of 10,000 pensioners as ghost retirees.
The Federal Government on November 13 warned both unions against embarking on their planned strike, saying it would amount to contempt of court.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, 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.
Labour leaders expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance on Day One, noting that the compliance level would be much better in the coming days.
As of yesterday among the major critical sectors that fully complied with the strike were workers in the Maritime sector who shut the Ports formations in Lagos, Rivers, Cross River and Delta states.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN in compliance with the Labour directive, shutdown port operations at Apapa and Tin-can Island.
This is even as freight forwarders have called on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy as well as the management of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC to ensure that terminal operators and shipping lines do not slam demurrage on them for the duration of the strike.
Similarly, workers in the Food, Beverage and Tobacco, Chemical and Non-metallic Products and the Construction sectors, fully complied.
PENGASSAN joins
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, directed its members nationwide to join the industrial action via a circular by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okungbowa.
Speaking on the Day One of the strike, Deputy President of TUC, Dr Tommy Okon, said: “We are very happy about the level of compliance so far. Many workers received the notice from their unions very late yesterday (Monday). I can authoritatively tell you there will be 100 percent compliance in the coming days.”
No meeting with FG – TUC
Meanwhile, the President of TUC, Festus Osifo, has dismissed reports of any meeting with the Federal Government, saying “I have no knowledge of any meeting with the government for now.”
Banks, trains grounded as Lagos workers join strike
However, the strike recorded an impact in Lagos as banks and train service were grounded.
The Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Mr Segun Esan, told newsmen that the union was involved in the strike and no train was running as a result.The strike had a significant impact in Lagos, where both banks and train services were brought to a halt.
The Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Mr. Segun Esan, confirmed that the union actively participated in the strike, resulting in the suspension of all train operations during that period. As a result, commuters in Lagos were affected by the disruption of train services.
“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,” Esan said.
Mr. Oluwole Olusoji, the President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, stated that they had issued advice to their members regarding compliance with the strike. He further mentioned that members were instructed to prioritize the protection of lives and property, particularly guarding against individuals who may attempt to exploit the situation for their advantage. This precautionary measure aimed to ensure the safety and security of both employees and assets during the strike period.
“We will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds,” Olusoji said.
Join nationwide strike, ASUU directs members
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU wrote to all zonal coordinators and chairpersons of the union and directed them to mobilise members be mobilised for the strike in line with the NLC and TUC directives.
The letter which was signed by ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, was issued on Monday night.
The letter read in part: “As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union. Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action. A people united, cannot be defeated.”
Don’t join strike, CONUA directs members
Conversely, CONUA directed its members not to join the strike.
In a statement by its President, Dr Niyi Sumonu, CONUA stated that the academic union was not communicated on the strike directive by the TUC which it sought to be an affiliate, noting that processes to become an affiliate of the TUC were yet to be completed, and the TUC had failed to communicate it on the directive to embark on strike.
“As at the moment of putting together this release, the TUC with whom CONUA submitted an affiliation request has not communicated this position on strike action to it. Distinguished comrades should therefore note that CONUA cannot be part of the strike action that is not communicated to it. In addition, the affiliation process with the TUC has not been officially established,” the statement read in part.
Public schools shut in Osogbo, police beef up security
Meanwhile, some public schools in Osogbo, Osun State, shut down operations in compliance with the strike directive, yesterday morning.
The students that had resumed at their various schools in the town were at about 9 am seen on the streets around Stadium, Ayetoro and West Bye-pass, Osogbo returning home.
During a visit to some schools within the metropolis, teachers were seen in their various offices after the students had been sent home.
Some of the schools visited include Fakunle High School, Osogbo, Saint James Grammar School and Adenle Grammar School also located in Ayetoro Area, Osogbo.
None of the teachers who were approached agreed to comment on record.
A few of them who spoke said they had resumed work only to be told of the commencement of strike by labour leaders.
‘’We couldn’t hold back the students when the labour leaders came around and asked us to shut down operations. The students have been released but many teachers are still around the premises,” a male teacher told Vanguard.
Contacted, Osun NLC acting chairperson, Modupe Oyedele, said workers in the state complied fully with the strike directive, adding “Osun is in full compliance with the strike directive.”
Unusual presence of armed police operatives was observed at some strategic points in Osogbo in an apparent move to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Police operatives were stationed at Lameco Junction, Old Garage and Olaiya areas of Osogbo. Economic activities were going on without hitches in the areas visited.
Banks, schools shut in Kano, govt suspends qualifying exams
In Kano, Primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, joined the strike.
Primary and day secondary school pupils who went to school as early as 7.30 am were compelled to return home as they did not meet teachers in the schools.
The strike also affected operations in banks, hospitals, and other public places in the state.
Similarly, the Audu Bako State Secretariat, which houses most of the ministries, was closed even though some workers who were not aware of the strike reported for work in the morning but had to return home later.
Students in Bayero University Kano who are currently sitting for their first semester examinations were also affected by the strike as a number of them who went to the examination halls had to return to their respective hostels.
“Many students who were to sit for exams in the morning returned to their hostels disappointed because they could not see anybody in the examination halls,” a female student said.
Consequently, the Kano State Ministry of Education has suspended the 2023 Secondary Schools Qualifying Examination scheduled to take place today, until further notice.
A statement signed by the Director of Public Enlightenment of the Ministry, Balarabe Kiru, revealed that the suspension is compelled by the industrial action embarked upon by the NLC and TUC nationwide.
Workers defy directives, continue work in Abuja
However, federal and private sector workers in Abuja all resumed their duty posts, yesterday morning, in defiance to the strike directives.
All offices at the Federal Secretariat,Abuja,were opened for work just as activities in and around the secretariat were in full swing.
There was no sign that any worker was absent from work on account of the strike.
At the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, performed his activities as scheduled. In fact, he presided over the Pre-departure briefing of the 179 Bilateral Education Agreement, BEA, Scholars, who were awarded Russian scholarships for the 2023/2024 academic session.
At the Federal Ministry of Health, all workers were seen at work. The Minister, Prof. Ali Pate, Permanent Secretary, Kachollom Daju, and other senior staff of the ministry were at work when Vanguard visited.
A worker who pleaded anonymity, said he came because he was yet to be directed to stay off duty by labour leaders in the health sector.
“I would have complied if I had a directive to that effect by the labour leaders of our local branch. We can’t stay at home because we read on the pages of newspapers that NLC and TUC have declared strike. If the directive to that effect comes today, then you may not see me on duty tomorrow,” he said.
The same thing was observed at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. All workers in the ministry were on duty. Although the Minister, Dr Betta Edu, was yet to come to her office when Vanguard visited.
Workers who spoke, said although they cited the circular from the national secretariat of NLC directing that they stay off duty, they couldn’t obey since their local chapter did not act on the correspondence.
Some labour leaders were seen hanging around the Federal Secretariat discussing the strike issue and their next strategies to effect the directives of the national leadership of their unions.
Asked to speak on the ineffective strike directives, one of the labour leaders told Vanguard in confidence that they would affect the strike today.
Just like the federal government workers, private sector workers were seen in their various places of work.
Also banks located in and around the Federal Secretariat were all opened to business. Staff and customers were seen transacting business.
Businesses went on around the Federal Secretariat complex.
NLC,TUC, affiliates shutdown Kebbi
In Kebbi, economic activities were grounded and public offices were closed.
Kebbi State Chairman of NLC, comrade Murtala Usman, told newsmen that they joined the industrial action because the “Organised Labour is a family, therefore an injury to one is an injury to all hence our reason to halt economic activities in Kebbi State to ensure that justice is done to our amiable leader, Mr. Ajearo who was unjustly manhandled by suspected security agencies for pressing demands of workers in Imo State.”
He added all labour affiliates like National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM; judiciary Staff Union, JUSUN, and all other unions had complied with directive shutting offices and social facilities.
“Kebbi State remains shut till further directives from our mother union to do otherwise. So, I urge Nigerians and the people of the state to cooperate with us as we struggle to ensure demands of Nigerians are met.”
NLC paralyses activities in Edo, shut down public offices, others
The strike recorded a huge success in Benin City, the Edo State capital as public schools, government offices, courts, some banks and other public places like the National Museum, the House of Assembly complex and others were shut by officials of the NLC.
Litigants were stranded at the entrance gates to the High Court Complex while some personnel did not also open the judges’ gates through which High Court judges enter their offices.
A lawyer, Mr. Afolabi Olayiwola, SAN, who couldn’t access the court premises said the strike was a sign of a failed system.
He expressed shock that despite a court order stopping the strike, judiciary workers still embarked on the strike.
“Ordinarily, the strike ought not to have been because there is a court order and if judiciary staff cannot obey a court order it shows it is a failed system and if it escalates it becomes a problem. If other sectors go on strike the judiciary arm ought not to have embarked on it as they are aware of the court order. That is where I am worried”
At the Benin Airport, an official said planes landed and took off and travellers were seen making their way into the airport to catch their flights to different destinations.
Banks along Akpakpava, Mission roads, Forestry and other areas were shut down with customers trying to get money from a few ATMs that dispensed cash.
Government schools in the GRA were shut as students were seen loitering around their schools.
A security officer at NPDC said the staff were complying with the strike with only essential workers allowed into the premises.
Also, Oredo, Egor and other local government secretariats visited in Benin City complied with the strike as workers in their numbers hung around the councils’ premises.
The Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma, branch of ASUU directed its members to comply with the directives of the NLC. Checks by Vanguard showed that there were skeletal activities in the campus as the students were seen preparing for their Computer Based Tests (CBT) which was to start yesterday and various offices were opened for normal activities.
But the CONUA, University of Benin chapter, distanced itself from the strike, describing it as a “one man decision.”
The Chairman of UNIBEN CONUA, Ishaq Osagie-Eweka, told journalists that CONUA is not an affiliate of the NLC, hence, it is 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 in Imo State that led to an alleged physical attack,” he said.
In Auchi, the headquarters of Etsako West LGA in Edo North, government offices and banks were closed to the public.
The closure of the State Secretariat was supervised by the chairman of Edo Chapter of the NLC, Odion Olaye with some workers and union executives seen within the complex, situated along Sapele Road, to ensure that members comply with the strike directives.
Also speaking, Comrade Alabi Precious, Chairman Edo State TUC Trade Union Congress said: “Our action was necessitated by the brutalization of the National President of NLC, Joe Ajaero and we are ready to get to the end of this matter.”
Ebonyi judiciary, university, banks shutdown
The Ebonyi State Judiciary, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, FUNAI, Banks, and ministries in Abakaliki, were yesterday shut down for the nationwide strike.
There was 90 percent compliance to the strike, as many workers, including lawyers and bankers were stranded at the gate of the complex located at Water Works Road Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.
The strike also paralyzed business activities in the state, especially those who trade inside the court premises. Academic activities at FUNAI and Ebonyi State University, EBSU were affected by the strike.
Speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki, the state chairman of the NLC, Prof. Egwu Ogugua said: “So far so good, our compliance to the strike is 90 percent, the Ochi-Udo secretariat is scanty, the Ebonyi judiciary is under lock and key, the banks are not functioning. It’s only Zenith Bank that is open but they are not open to customers.
“What happened in Imo State, especially what is happening in Nigeria is bad. We have been pushed to the wall, we have been crushed. The ruling class no longer believes that we exist. It’s like anarchy has begun and that’s the situation we see ourselves in Nigeria,” he said.
Anambra workers comply with NLC directives
The chairman of the Anambra chapter of the NLC, Humphrey Nwafor, said workers in the state had already joined the strike as directed by the national body.
He said defaulters of the directives would be dealt with accordingly.
He said: “We’ve joined the strike. We’ve directed our members to stay away from their offices and workplaces till further notice. There won’t be any street protests. We’re only withdrawing our services as directed by the national body.”
Courts, schools under lock as NLC strike hits Abia
Also, the strike crippled activities in various courts and schools in Umuahia, Abia State capital.
The industrial action, which kicked off on Tuesday, 14th November, is to be enforced in all affiliate unions of the NLC in Abia, according to a press release signed by its Chairman, Comrade Pascal Nweke.
The Abia State High Court complex at Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia, and the High Court and Magistrate Courts inside the main buildings were under lock and key.
Lawyers, litigants, and judiciary staff were seen loitering outside the main gate.
Teachers in Primary school (1) School Road Primary School, Ibeku High School among other government schools also joined the strike.
Pupils of City Primary School at the school road were seen playing football during learning hours.
Staff of Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) Umuahia also joined the strike.
However, staff of some Abia State government establishments only observed a skeletal strike
Our Correspondent observed some civil servants entering the offices of the Head of Service, Secretary to Abia State Government, and the Michael Okpara auditorium, through one side of their gates, even though some offices remained locked.
Electricity workers supplied light to Umuahia city but withdrew the light by 11:10 am.
Also, most commercial banks in Umuahia were still rendering normal services to customers as of the time of this report, even though customers were only allowed into their premises in batches.
Enugu workers shun NLC, TUC strike directive, resume at duty posts
Workers in Enugu State defied the strike directive and resumed at their various duty posts.
In some areas of Enugu, the state capital, banks were observed rendering services to their customers. Workers of some government agencies also resumed work early in the morning.
At the government revenue office along Zik Avenue, workers were in their various offices, while a bank along Agbani Road was also rendering services to customers. Both private and government schools also did not observe the strike.
A civil servant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the leadership of both NLC and TUC over the non-compliance with the strike directive, saying they failed to act when the ovation was loudest.
There was heavy vehicular movement on the major roads of Enugu city while the markets were open for businesses.
Imo workers comply partially, banks open for businesses
In Imo State, the strike recorded a partial compliance as civil servants reported for duty and banks opened for businesses.
Gates to the state secretariat were wide opened for workers.
Several workers were seen at their various duty posts discussing the outcome of the governorship election which was won by Governor Hope Uzodimma for another four-year term.
However, many of the workers reported out of fear as some registered their names and left very early for their homes.
Many banks in the state attended to their customers
Some courts complied with the strike directive but some litigants who were not aware of the strike came to the court to hear their cases.
At Douglas Road, Wetheral Road, and Bank Road, people were seen transacting businesses in the banks.
However, at some of the federal establishments such as Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, workers stayed away from their offices, saying, “we are on strike.”
Brutalisation of Ajaero not a personal matter—Labour
Faulting Onanuga’s comment that the strike was an ego trip because of Ajaero, the NLC, in a statement, by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, titled “Bayo Onanuga’s mischief and the tragedy of a nation”, said Onanuga is suffering from selective amnesia.
Why insisting the strike is not a personal matter affecting Ajaero, as alleged, the NLC urged Nigerians to ignore the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, because he is known for his overzealous hirelings with the mistaken belief that would earn him the confidence of his principal.
The statement read in part: “If Onanuga were not suffering from selective amnesia, he ought to have known that this government should remain grateful to the organised labour for its uncommon patience with a government that clearly was not prepared for the consequences of its fundamentalist market policies of massive currency devaluation and ‘subsidy’ removal which imposed on Nigerians social violence, upheaval, dislocation, displacement or punishment they never before experienced.
“Onanuga, similarly ought to have known that organised labour, by not opting for a strike as a first option, acted as a bulwark against the rage of Nigerians thereby saving this government from itself.
“Organised labour is not unaware of the misdirected anger of Nigerians for not going for the jugular of this government for justifiable reasons: inflation moved from 19 percent to 29 percent; exchange rate from N400 to N1,300; and pump price of Petrol from N187 to N700, in the first five months of this government!
“In light of this, who is punishing “a whole country of over 200 million people”, NLC/TUC or the Government of Bola Tinubu?
“Similarly, this strike is not ‘over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to the assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike’, as casually and callously alleged by Bayo Onanuga.
“However, herein lies the kernel of the matter. Mr Ajaero is General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and neither he nor any of the members of his union in or outside Imo State is owed a salary/pension payment arrears.
“However, in his capacity as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress he has an oversight over all the unions affiliated to the Congress including the civil servants and pensioners (core/non-core civil servants, teachers, local government workers, pensioners etc) who have been owed in varying degrees of arrears.
“There have been pending cases of improper implementation of national minimum wage, declaration of thousands of workers as ghost workers, and non-implementation of agreements reached with the state government since 2021.
“Some of this went to court and the state government asked for time out of court for settlement but did not honour its own voluntary agreement as usual. The state government in a written statement did admit it was too busy working to honour its own voluntary agreement.
“A previous strike action was suspended on the appeal of elder statesmen and women and an appeal by the state government. After this, Congress made every humanly possible effort to have the issues peacefully resolved, all to no avail. Congress was left with no option than to resume a strike action in the state with notice. Congress had been to a couple of other states that did not even commit the sins of the Imo State Government.
“Coupled with the above, fresh demands were made following the abduction, and gruesome assault and battery òf Comrade Joe Ajaero (by the Police) out of which none has been met fully.
“How then could this be a personal matter to Joe Ajaero? Before he became Congress President, he never bothered himself with the affairs of Imo State or any state for that matter except it was the decision of Congress organs.”
