Workers across Nigeria have ceased operations as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) initiate an industrial action in response to the recent electricity tariff hike and the lack of agreement on a new minimum wage.
Despite the National Assembly’s last-minute intervention to avert the strike declared on Friday, negotiations reached an impasse, prompting the unions to proceed with their planned action.
The strike has significantly disrupted businesses and essential services nationwide, affecting schools, hospitals, and power supply as workers adhere to the directives from the TUC and NLC.
The impact is widespread, with economic activities coming to a standstill from River State in the South-South region to Kaduna in the North-West.
This nationwide strike underscores the critical issues facing Nigeria’s workforce and highlights the pressing need for resolutions that address the concerns of both the government and labor unions.
READ ALSO:
Trump Warns Prison Sentence Could Be “Breaking Point” for His Supporters
As the strike continues, the country grapples with the consequences of halted services and a disrupted economy.
Airport operations were halted nationwide, including in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Lagos. At Port Harcourt Airport, airport workers from the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) blocked vehicle access from 7:00 am, leaving passengers stranded and some trekking into the airport. Despite the disruptions, flights have not been affected, and there is a strong security presence.
Early Monday, workers shut down the national grid, plunging the country into a blackout. Ndidi Mbah, General Manager (Public Affairs) of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), reported that at around 2:19 am, TCN staff under the National Union of Electricity Workers (NUEE) turned off all power substations, reducing the national grid to zero megawatts.