On Day One, the two-day warning strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) recorded high compliance in most states except Lagos where workers shunned the directive from the labour union.
There was also partial compliance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NLC had last Friday issued the two-day warning strike notice over the current hardship caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Banks, hospitals, courts, tertiary institutions, telecommunication outlets as well as government ministries, departments and agencies were shut in compliance with the labour leaders’ directive.
However, the strike recorded poor compliance in Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and the home state of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who celebrated 100 days in office, on the same day the industrial action commenced across the country.
While government offices, banks and hospitals in Lagos operated without disturbance, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) disrupted economic activities at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in compliance with the strike order.
The State chairman of NLC, Funmi Sessi, who noted that the strike recorded ‘reasonable compliance’ in the state, said the body expected full compliance by all affiliates today.
Some of the highlights of the strike included the total shut down of the ports, Osogbo Transmission Company, and some power distribution companies, DisCos, raising fears of imminent blackout.
Speaking on the strike, President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, expressed delight over the level of compliance on day one of the two-day warning strike, saying the first day of the strike fully achieved NLC’s objectives.
He said: “We are very happy with the level of compliance. I can tell you that day one of the warning strike met our objectives. We believe that day two will send a stronger signal to the federal government that we are determined to ensure our members and other Nigerians do not continue to suffer the bad policies of our government.
‘’From the onset, we have objectives that we articulated in the communiqué we released on Friday, September 1, 2023. We are doggedly following the objectives until we are satisfied that the appropriate authorities addressed our demands.”
Also in a circular to state councils, titled “Our two-day nationwide warning strike: First day of success”, Ajaero appreciated members of NLC in the states and affiliate unions “for the massive support and efforts at ensuring that the first day of the nationwide warning strike took off with a resounding success across the nation.
“You have all demonstrated that your words and decisions will always be backed by action. This has resonated in every part of the country today (yesterday) and we are sure that the message has been sent to those who doubt our determination to push through with our objectives.
‘’We are glad to inform you that all of our objectives for the first day were fully met because of the high level of compliance experienced as a result of your collective efforts around the federation.
“Congress salutes you all for your commitment towards ensuring that the reasons for the warning strike were fulfilled at this time. We, however, urge you all to continue with the same zeal and determination which saw the huge success recorded today (yesterday) as we move to the second and final day of the nationwide strike to ensure a complete success of the entire exercise.
“While thanking all Nigerian workers and, indeed, the masses for their understanding as we go through this trying time, we call for more efforts of the kind you showed today and urge all of us to join hands to ensure that all loopholes observed during today’s action are plugged so that tomorrow’s action will be a total success.
“It is our civic duty to ensure that we are governed effectively and that those in government remain accountable to the people at all times! We are committed to that and with your continued support; our nation will surely become a better place for all of us.”
Throwing its weight behind the NLC’s action, the umbrella body of pro-labour civil society groups, the Joint Action Front, JAF, in a statement by its Chair Person and Secretary, Dr. Dipo Fashina and Abiodun Aremu, respectively, said: “ The Joint Action Front, JAF, declares its support for the resolve by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to continue the struggle, with a two-day warning strike, that commences today (yesterday).
‘’We also support the demand for an immediate end to the attacks on democratic rights of members of NURTW and workers in Imo and Abia states to independently determine their leadership without government interference.
“JAF equally applauds the decision of the NLC-NEC for its resolution to totally shut down the country by embarking on an indefinite nationwide general strike, should the federal government fail in the next 14 or 21days to address the excruciating pain and untold hardships the masses are going through.
“However, we urge the NLC to desist from preoccupying itself with the so-called palliatives. Rather, we propose that they should fight for concrete demands such as the reversal of petrol prices to N195, building of public refineries, reversal of the recent hikes in fees at different higher institutions and a new decent minimum wage.
‘’Also importantly, the next strike should not be a sit-at-home action but include different mass activities, including nationwide protest march, together with an effective preparation and adequate mass mobilisation at workplaces, communities, schools and markets.
“JAF reaffirms its position that ‘at the moment, millions of workers and poor Nigerians are finding it hard to go out daily to earn their living’.
‘’We had warned that the challenge of the working class to struggle in Nigeria should go beyond negotiating for palliatives because such ephemeral and adhoc measures have in the past three decades, shown abysmal failure to cushion the effect of the criminal hike and the so-called subsidy removal.
“We salute the commitment of the NLC in this proactive warning strike, to stand firm with its long standing tradition of principled struggle, by its commendable position of boycotting henceforth, ‘the rituals of fruitless meetings’ with an irresponsible and insensitive regime that is intoxicated on forcing its imposed neoliberal policies of hardship and repressive measures on the masses of our exploited and oppressed people.
“JAF urges Nigerians to give their total support to the NLC to stand firm on principles at all time and avoid hurriedly packaged and deceptive measures that are usually presented at so-called negotiation table, which in most cases turn out to be deceptive arrangement intended to buy time for introduction of additional suffering.’’
