NLC strike action fails to garner traction

Business and economic activities were normal in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub on Wednesday, as workers ignored the directive of the factionalised Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to begin strike and nationwide protests.

This was as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) enjoined oil marketers to open their depots for the members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), to load petroleum products to different locations in the country.

Igwe Achese, president of NUPENG, restated that the union did not subscribe to any strike action.

“Members should go about their lawful duties, while we await full commencement of negotiation with government on the review of the minimum wage and palliatives that will cushion the effect of the fuel price hike,” Achese said.

Also, banks, insurance companies, shopping malls, petroleum filling stations, eateries and markets all opened for business. Operators of the yellow commercial buses, tricycles and motorbikes were seen in full operation carrying and dropping passengers.

Federal and State government offices were open unlike in similar situations in the past when such offices would be under lock and key, with labour leaders standing to ward off any worker who dared disregard their order to stay at home.

However, the situation was different in Benin City, the Edo State capital, as organised labour chased out staff of state-owned ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that failed to join the nationwide protest against the N145 increase of fuel pump price.

The protesters stormed block C arm of the Edo State secretariat and chased away staff of the state civil service who were participating in the ongoing staff revalidation exercise. They also pulled down a canopy provided as shades for the staff.

On the other hand, staff members of the various courts, Ministry of Health, Edo State House of Assembly were all at work, as well as banks and Federal Government MDAs, and students and pupils in public schools, who were already in their various schools, were all sent home.

The strike action failed to succeed in Rivers State, as the morning hours were shaky and confusing but later in the day, it became clear that there would be no strike.

Banks were sceptical too, as many of them were not open leaving customers only to the automated teller machines (ATM), but later, many transacted businesses freely.

The NLC has two factions in Rivers State. One faction was said to have done picketing in the morning hours, while the other did not.

The strongest force and rallying point for workers in the state now seems to be the TUC led by Chika Onuegbu.

In Kano, the situation indicates that members of the Labour movement might have opted out of the industrial action; as feelers in the state show that business activities went on in both public and private places, despite the commencement of the indefinite industrial strike declared by the NLC.

At the Audu Bako Secretariat, where most of the state government MDAs are situated, it was observed that workers were seen performing their usual business activities as early as 10am.

On the other hand, the strike was effective in Abia State, as the state chapter of the NLC instructed their members, comprising state civil servants and local government employees on the aegis of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), which is an affiliate of the NLC, to stay out of work.

Consequently, the state secretariat in Umuahia was shut and staff that came early to work were asked to leave. Also, pupils and students of public schools were sent home, as teachers joined in the strike.

In Akwa Ibom State the strike failed to cripple business activities. While it partially held in Uyo, the state capital, with only public sector workers taking part, banks and other financial institutions operated as usual.

In Abuja, the protest flopped as workers across Federal MDAs resumed at their duty posts.

However, in line with its earlier threat, Wabba and leaders of NLC affiliates and CSOs championed a mass protest alongside over 500 workers to press home the demand for reversal of the N145 pump price of PMS to N86.50 as precondition for negotiation with Federal Government team led by Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it was ready to return to the negotiation table with the organised labour whenever they (labour) deemed it fit.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, who briefed alongside the minister of information, Lai Mohammed, said this while briefing newsmen after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday.

“We will open our doors to them for negotiations when they come back,” Ngige said.

JOSHUA BASSEY, Lagos, IGNATIUS CHUKWU, PH,  IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin, ADEOLA AJAKAIYE, Kano,  GODFREY OFURUM, Aba, ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo,  KEHINDE AKINTOLA, & ELIZABETH ARCHIBONG, Abuja