Nigeria faces total economic shutdown as banks, NURTW, NUATE, NUPENG, others join NLC strike
There is bound to be a total economic shutdown in Nigeria on Tuesday and Wednesday 5th and 6th September, 2023 if the Federal Government fails to avert the two-day warning strike planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Economy can authoritatively report that workers in all critical sectors of the economy such as financial institutions, transportation and aviation as well as petroleum products distribution chain have been directed to join the strike by the leadership of their various unions.
Nigerians who do not plan their food and family needs supply for the two days may be caught up in the quagmire, as food supplies may suffer due to lack of transportation lack of access to cash.
Critical sector unions such as the Nahional Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees; Nigeria Union of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, which controls the fuel distribution across the country; the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE; the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PTECSSAN, are joining the strike.
Others include the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN; National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE; Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, ANAN, National Association of Air Pilots and Engineers, NAPE; National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE; National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, and others in the manufacturing sector.
A memo from the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees titled, “Notice on two days withdrawal of notice dated September 2, 2023,” signed by its General Secretary, Mohammed Sheikh was issued to members on Sunday.
The union stated: “In line with the communique issued after the meeting of national Executive Council ( NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), held on Thursday 31st Augustz 2023 that all affiliates should direct all its members to commence two days withdrawal of services from Tueaday & Wednesday 5th & 6th September 2023.
The directive is imperative to get the needed attention of government and warn it off its new found love of meddling in the internal affairs of unions rather than address punishing economic circumstances we find ourselves.
“We hereby direct all our organs to comply with this directive by ensuring (that) all our members stay off duties for the two days.
Your cooperation in this regard will be appreciated.”
MWUN also issued a circular by its Deputy Secretary General, Erazua Oniha, on behalf of the Union’s Secretary General, Felix Akingboye.
MWUN stated: “We receive a communique from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on the above subject, directing that all NLC affiliates commence a two-day nationwide warning strike to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the State vacates the illegally occupied National Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.
“This decision was reached at a meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC, of NLC, which was held on Thursday, August 31, 2023 to deliberate the way forward, consequent to the increase in the pump price of petrol by the FG without consideration to providing palliatives to cushion the definite effect on the Nigerian workers and citizens.
“Consequent to the foregoing, all National Administrative Council, NAC, Central Working Committee, CWC, NEC and members in all ports, jetties, terminals and Oil and Gas platforms nationwide are by this notice directed to commence on immediate and total mobilisation of our members to effectively ensure their participation in the nationwide warning strike from Tuesday 5 to Wednesday 6 September 2023 .”
Similarly, in the telecommunications sector, General Secretary of PTECSSAN, Okonu Abdullahi, said that members would fully participate in the strike action, saying “We operate in a very sensitive sector. What will happen for now is that because it will be a warning strike, any fault that occurred within the two days will not be attended to.”
In the same vein, Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, informed that “the workers in the electricity sector were part of the decision to embark on the warning strike. Therefore, we are fully prepared to do as directed.”
Though the President and General Secretary of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, could not be reached at the time of this report, a senior official of NUPENG who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We are an affiliate of NLC therefore, the decision is binding on us. In fact, I can tell you that we have stepped up mobilisation for the action.”
