By Joke Kujenya
RESPONDING to the escalating nationwide strike, the Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), has convened an urgent meeting of the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage.
The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, June 4, at 10,00a.m.
The previous meeting on May 31 ended in chaos when the Organised Labour negotiating team walked out triggered by the government’s and the Organised Private Sector’s (OPS) refusal to increase their offer beyond N60,000.
Already, the nationwide strike has seen significant compliance across various sectors, causing widespread disruption.
In the power sector, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has successfully shut down operations. Dominic Igwebike, the Acting General Secretary of NUEE, confirmed the complete halt of activities within the electricity industry.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has ceased all loading activities at fuel depots in Lagos.
However, for safety reasons, trucks already loaded were permitted to depart the depots, including those at aviation terminals.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has also enforced a shutdown of port operations nationwide.
According to an official, this includes ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, Onne, Calabar, and other locations, with closures to remain in effect until further notice from the national labour leadership.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has locked out judges, lawyers, staff, and litigants from accessing courts.
This action is in line with the directives from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
At major court locations, including the FCT High Court in Maitama, the Federal High Court (FHC), the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, activities were brought to a standstill.
JUSUN members, alongside private security guards and a few police officers, enforced the closure of court gates, denying entry to all.
Speaking on the developments, Comrade Samuel Ikpatt, Chairman of the FHC Chapter of JUSUN, reiterated their commitment to the strike. “We are in total compliance with the directive of the NLC,” he stated.
According to Ikpatt, no court sessions are being held, and the gates will remain locked until further instructions from the NLC.
Comrade Mohammed Danjuma-Yusuf, Treasurer of the JUSUN Chapter of the Court of Appeal, echoed this sentiment. “The Court of Appeal is in total shutdown with 100 per cent compliance.
All 20 branches of the Court of Appeal are closed, and no one, including judges, is allowed entry,” he confirmed.
The strike had been informed by the government’s lackadaisical response to the NLC and TUC negotiations which made the unions to declare the indefinite strike on May 31 and began today, Monday, June 3, following a deadlock in dialogs over the new minimum wage.
The government’s urgent meeting of the tripartite committee tomorrow is said to be a direct response to the widespread participation and impact of the strike on its first day.
Observers within the government also indicate concern over the high level of compliance and participation by workers across the nation, prompting this expedited attempt to resolve the ongoing wage dispute.
FG are jokers, why the meeting, can’t they just do the needful, Labour shouldn’t attend such meeting again
Exactly. They must do the needful and stop being shamelessly deceitful.
I guess they were rattled by the massive compliance across the country.
As a meter of urgency labour should insist that all governors president, a d their aid’s, even the National Assembly salaries should be cut down, because labour deserves better pay, cost of living is telling hard on daily bases and with nothing from the side of government to show for. We cannot continue in these misdirected manner.
I hope they will listen and heed this. You know it has been a long-standing advocacy that they should cut down on these humongous payments for themselves, but they never listen. They’re just a bunch of wicked, selfish dealers thinking themselves to be leaders. It’s really painful. Thanks for reading us. We appreciate you.
I pray for divine intervention, because when two elephants fights, its the grass that suffers. The powers that be should know that there is hardship in the land. Therefore quick resolution is needed on the matter in contention.