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2024 Nigerian general strike

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2024 Nigerian general strike
Date31 May 2024 – present
Location
Nigeria
Caused byCost-of-living crisis
GoalsIncrease of the minimum wage
MethodsStrike actions
StatusOngoing
  • National grid and airports shut down
  • Strike declared illegal by government
  • Strike suspended, pending negotiations
Parties
Lead figures

On 31 May 2024, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) called an indefinite general strike, demanding the country's monthly minimum wage be raised from ₦30,000 to ₦494,000. This came as a response to a national cost-of-living crisis, as the price of food and electricity overtook the minimum wage, which is relatively low for the large African economy.

The country's national grid and its airports were shut down on 3 June 2024, as were banks, hospitals and schools. The government responded by denouncing the unions' demands as "unreasonable" and declaring the strike to be illegal. The following day, the NLC and TUC suspended the strike for a week, pending talks with the government over raising the minimum wage.

Background[edit]

Since the election of Bola Tinubu as President of Nigeria in 2023, his government has carried out a number of economic reforms that have resulted in inflation rising to its highest rate in almost three decades, exacerbating Nigeria's cost-of-living crisis.[1][2][3][4] In response to the rising cost-of-living, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has led a series of major strikes in the country, in an attempt to pressure the government to provide relief for households affected by rising costs and raise the minimum wage.[1][4]

Although Nigeria has one of the largest economies in Africa, its minimum wage is relatively low compared with other African countries. The government proposed a 100% increase of the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦60,000, but the unions rejected this as "unsustainable" and demanded a larger increase.[2] According to BBC News, the monthly cost of the average Nigerian family's rice consumption is greater even than the government's proposed raised minimum wage.[3]

Strike action[edit]

General strike and economic shutdown[edit]

After talks between unions and the government to raise the minimum wage collapsed, on Friday 31 May 2024, the NLC and TUC declared that an indefinite general strike would be held until their demands were met. The unions demanded an increase in the monthly minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦494,000.[1][3][4] The NLC stated that its aims were to establish a "living wage" and described the current minimum wage as a "starvation wage".[5] They also demanded the reversal of the government's electricity tariff hike, which had caused a rising price of electricity.[4]

On Monday 3 June, union workers in the electricity and airline industries stopped work, resulting in the complete shut down of the national grid and air travel throughout the country.[1][2][3] According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), operators of the power grid were forcibly removed from their stations and beaten. Striking workers were also photographed ordering officials of the Nigerian tax agency out of their offices.[2]

Striking workers also cut the electricity and water supplies to the National Assembly, while protests blocked the gates to the assembly building. Banks and hospitals were also reportedly shut down by the strike.[1] Speaking to CNN, one doctor expressed worry that the Nigerian healthcare system was "on the verge of collapse", as hospitals were unable to function without electricity from the national grid.[2] Schools were also shut down by the strike.[3] Unions in the oil industry have likewise threatened to stop work, although Gbenga Komolafe responded that systems had been established to prevent disruption to oil production.[5]

Negotiations[edit]

On Tuesday 4 June 2024, the NLC and TUC announced that they were suspending the general strike for a week, after the government signalled its willingness to raise the minimum wage higher than their previous proposal of ₦60,000.[6][7] As union leaders and the federal government met for talks on the proposed wage rise, NLC secretary Tayo Aboyeji said that the strike would resume the following week, if the government failed to come to an agreement with the unions. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPNGW), which represents workers in the country's large petroleum industry, said it would hold off from recalling its workers while it waited to see the results of the negotiations.[6]

During the negotiations, the NLC significantly lowered their demanded minimum wage from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000.[8] Following a week of negotiations, on 10 June 2024, the NLC announced that it would reject any proposal for raising the minimum wage to ₦62,000 and even to ₦100,000, which it described as a "starvation wage". Assistant general secretary Chris Onyeka reiterated the union's demands for a higher wage, stating that the union would not settle for any less than ₦250,000, which they "considered enough concession to the government".[9] The following day, when the union's deadline passed, NLC president Joe Ajaero said that they would not resume the strike until they heard President Tinubu's decision. Ajaero said he was hopeful that "this President will do the right thing".[10][11] The NLC outlined that the two union centres would consider any proposal made by Tinubu to the National Assembly, ruling out an immediate return to strike action, which it considered to be a last resort.[12]

On 25 June 2024, minimum wage proposals were delayed while the federal government continued its consultation with state governors and employers' associations.[13] The TUC appealed for the government to expedite the process of introducing the new minimum wage law.[14] In response to the delay, the TUC and NLC called an emergency meeting to discuss further action.[15] The NLC criticised the government's delay, which is said "creates room for injurious speculation".[16]

Other strike actions[edit]

On 19 June 2024, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) announced that it would be beginning a nationwide strike in July, citing non-payment of salaries by the government, which had implemented a "no work, no pay policy" during a previous strike.[17] An ultimatum to the federal government was also signed by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), which called for four months of withheld salaries to be paid within two weeks.[18] The ASUU accused president Tinubu of ignoring the issues affecting them, reporting that the government hadn't met with the union since Tinubu first took power.[19] The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) urged Tinubu to address the dispute with the ASUU.[20]

On 25 June 2024, 1,800 petrol stations were shut down in northeastern Nigeria, after the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) began a strike in protest against an anti-smuggling operation by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).[21][22] IPMAN chairman Alhaji Dahiru Buba blamed harassment of petrol workers by the NCS for the strike, which he said would continue until the NCS ceased its operations against them. The News Agency of Nigeria reported a reduction in vehicle traffic during the strike.[23]

Responses[edit]

Government response[edit]

The Nigerian government has claimed that the unions' demands would "cripple economy" and cause job losses.[3] Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga himself accused the unions of "blackmail" and "sabotage", saying that "Labour is harming the Nigerian people they claim to be fighting for."[1] Lateef Fagbemi, the Minister of Justice, declared the strike to be illegal.[2] Mohammed Idris Malagi, the Minister of Information, said that the unions' demands would "destabilise the economy".[4]

Public response[edit]

The strike has been met with mixed reactions from the Nigerian public, with some expressing support for its aims of raising the minimum wage, while others worried that its targetting of public infrastructure would harm average Nigerians.[2] According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 92% of Nigerian workers are in the informal economy and have no union representation.[24] Speaking to the BBC, one information worker in Kano said that he would not settle for less than ₦100,000, although he worried that even that would not be enough as inflation continued.[7]

Press response[edit]

Social media influencer Reno Omokri rejected the strikers' demands for higher wages, denounced NLC leader Joe Ajaero as an "economic saboteur" and accused him of trying "to please his master, Peter Obi."[25] Writing for This Day, columnist Onikepo Braithwaite denounced the sabotage actions taken during the strike as a form of "domestic terrorism", although she also wrote sympathetically about the need for a living wage and called for "both sides to be reasonable".[26] In contrast, the Daily Trust commended the unions for suspending the strike ahead of negotiations and, holding the federal government responsible for a lack of action on the minimum wage, called on it to seek a consensus with the unions over a wage rise.[27]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Egbejule, Eromo (3 June 2024). "Nigerian unions shut down national grid and airports as indefinite strike begins". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Princewill, Nimi (3 June 2024). "Nigeria plunged into darkness as union workers shut down national grid in minimum wage protest". CNN. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Abubakar, Mansur (3 June 2024). "Power cut across Nigeria as workers go on strike". BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Nigeria's power grid shut down, airlines disrupted as unions strike". Al Jazeera. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Nigerian unions launch strike over failed minimum-wage negotiations". Voice of America. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b Onuah, Felix; Anyaogu, Isaac (4 June 2024). "Nigeria's unions suspend strike for talks over new minimum wage". Reuters. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b Jolaoso, Simi; Abubakar, Mansur (4 June 2024). "Nigeria unions suspend strike after wage offer". BBC News. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  8. ^ Jones, Isaac (10 June 2024). "Nigeria's Minimum Wage Impasse: Crucial Talks Continue Amid Threats of Renewed Strike Action". Trendy Digests. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  9. ^ Ololade (10 June 2024). "'We Won't Negotiate Starvation Wage' — Labour Discloses As Seven-Day Strike Suspension Elapses Tomorrow". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  10. ^ Adedamola, Alex (11 June 2024). ""No Plan For Nationwide Strike On Tuesday" – NLC Tells Nigerians, Await Tinubu's Nod". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  11. ^ NDA-Isaiah, Jonathan; John, Adegwu (11 June 2024). "Nigeria: Minimum Wage - We Won't Resume Strike for Now - Ajaero". Leadership.ng. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  12. ^ Agbakwuru, Johnbosco (24 June 2024). "Labour to govs on minimum wage: Retrieve Nigeria from state of resentment, misery". Vanguard. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  13. ^ AhiumaYoung, Victor; Agbakwuru, Johnbosco (26 June 2024). "Tinubu to consult govs, OPS on minimum wage — FG". Vanguard. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  14. ^ Elumoye, Deji; Ezigbo, Onyebuchi (26 June 2024). "Expedite Action on New Minimum Wage, Labour Tells Tinubu as FEC Steps Down Memo". This Day. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  15. ^ Inyang, Ifreke (25 June 2024). "Minimum wage: Labour to hold emergency meeting over FEC's decision". Daily Post. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  16. ^ Adepegba, Adelani; Tolu-Kolawole, Deborah; Aina, Damilola; Angbulu, Stephen (26 June 2024). "Minimum wage: Labour kicks as FEC steps down memo, demands consultation". The Punch. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  17. ^ Ogunnaike, James (19 June 2014). "Withheld salaries: ASUU threatens nationwide strike, sensitizes stakeholders". Vanguard. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  18. ^ Tyohemba, Henry; John, Adegwu (21 June 2024). "ASUU Threatens Strike, Others Give Ultimatum". Leadership. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  19. ^ Atungwu, Matthew (25 June 2024). "Tinubu paying lip service to our demands –ASUU alleges, threatens strike". Daily Post. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  20. ^ Ogunsile, Richard (24 June 2024). "NUJ Writes Tinubu Over New Minimum Wage, ASUU Strike, Insecurity". Naija News. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  21. ^ Dabang, Percy (24 June 2024). "Over 1,800 fuel outlets shut in Nigeria's northeast over smuggling dispute". Reuters. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  22. ^ Addeh, Emmanuel (25 June 2024). "Over 1,800 Filling Stations Shut in North-east as FG Moves against Fuel Smuggling". This Day. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  23. ^ "IPMAN Adamawa/Taraba vows to continue strike as petrol hits ₦2,000 per litre". Pulse NG. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  24. ^ Maclean, Ruth; Auwal, Ismail (11 June 2014). "Nigeria Confronts Its Worst Economic Crisis in a Generation". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  25. ^ Opejobi, Seun (3 June 2024). "Strike: Ajaero pleasing his master Peter Obi – Omokri". Daily Post. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  26. ^ Braithwaite, Onikepo (11 June 2024). "Labour Unions: Between Strike and Terrorism". This Day. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  27. ^ "FG must avert labour strikes". Daily Trust. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
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