LAGOS, Nigeria — A nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the removal of fuel subsidies and rising cost of living is set to begin on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, a move that may severely paralyse the country as commercial transport operators, schools, markets, and healthcare facilities brace to shut down.
The Tinubu-led Federal Government’s failure to meet with the NLC’s demands has exacerbated tensions, with talks between government officials and organized labour representatives repeatedly breaking down.
A last-minute meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 31, 2023, but the NLC has already advised citizens to stockpile food and medicine in anticipation of potential disruptions.
Assistant General Secretary, NLC, Chris Onyeka, laid out the potential consequences, saying, “Nigerians should be prepared. Being prepared means you have to stock food in your house and be economical with your movement at this particular point in time to avoid being stranded.”
The impending nationwide protest was met with frustration by the government, leading to heated exchanges and an emergency meeting on Friday that ended abruptly when labour representatives stormed out.
They claim the government’s delegation failed to show up, a charge the government denies.
“The government side was not prepared. They didn’t show any seriousness towards what they were doing,” Onyeka stated.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, confirmed they were mobilizing members to ground the supply of fuel and the national electricity grid, effectively compounding the crippling effects of the strike.
The General Secretary, NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale, was firm in his response, saying, “The congress has taken a unanimous decision, and it is mandatory that every affiliate should obey the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress.”
The Federal Government warned the NLC that it was legally restrained from embarking on the planned nationwide strike, citing a ruling of the National Industrial Court.
However, labour leaders remain defiant, criticizing the government’s lack of seriousness.
“When we got to the Villa on Friday, we waited almost two hours at the gate for clearance with no intervention. By the time we got to the point of the meeting, we realised that the team representing the government failed to show up. So, it is wrong actually to say labour stormed out of the meeting. How can labour storm out of a meeting that did not hold? We felt very disappointed because we did not expect this from the government,” said the National Deputy President, TUC, Tommy Etim.
With the nationwide strike just days away and both sides appearing to dig in, Nigeria faces a period of uncertainty that may send shockwaves through an already fragile economy.
The last-minute meeting on Monday, July 3, 2023, may offer a chance for resolution, but with trust eroded and demands unmet, the prospects for an agreement appear slim.
The situation encapsulates the broader struggles of a nation grappling with economic hardship and a populace increasingly frustrated with government policies.
It marks a critical moment for the Tinubu administration, whose handling of this crisis may shape its legacy and Nigeria’s immediate future.
