Strike: Aviation Workers Opt Out, Ports Grounded

The nationwide strike initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress commenced on Tuesday, revealing partial compliance within various sectors of the economy.

The NLC, in collaboration with its affiliate, the Trade Union Congress, declared an indefinite strike starting from November 14, 2023.

The decision to launch the strike was driven by alleged infractions and encroachments on workers’ rights, including the assault on NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero and the government’s persistent refusal to implement agreed-upon measures.

Additional grievances encompassed the non-payment of backlog salaries, pensions, discriminatory salary practices, and non-compliance with the national minimum wage.

Despite an ex-parte application filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice seeking to restrain the unions from proceeding with the planned strike, approximately 19 unions defied the court order.

This defiance raises questions about potential implications across various sectors and the government’s response to the workers’ demands..

The extensive array of participating unions, spanning education, healthcare, telecommunications, local government, judiciary, banking, maritime, electricity, parliamentary staff, and railway workers, underscores the far-reaching impact and solidarity characterizing the ongoing nationwide strike.

In September, the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria issued a warning to the NLC and TUC, underscoring the substantial threat that strike actions pose to the country’s economy.

Expressing concerns about potential adverse effects on economic stability, the private sector urged a reconsideration of such actions to safeguard the nation’s economic interests.

Port activities grind to a halt

Licensed customs agents and other port users at the Apapa, Tincan Island, and other ports in Lagos were denied access due to compliance from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.

Observations on Tuesday revealed a complete shutdown of all commercial activities at the ports.

The Union had announced its intention to participate in the nationwide strike, citing various grievances and infractions against workers’ rights.

In a statement on Monday, the Head of Media of MWUN, John Ikemefuna, conveyed that the strike directive came from the National Executive Council meeting of the NLC.

The decision was a response to perceived government infractions, including the abduction and assault on NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, non-payment of salaries and pensions, and the government’s failure to implement agreements.

Affirming their commitment to the nationwide strike as an affiliate of the NLC, Ikemefuna expressed readiness to join the broader labor action.

Reacting to the development, Sikiru Remilekun, the Youth Leader of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Tincan Island Chapter, issued a notice instructing members to stay at home until further information is provided.

In a public notice, Remilekun stated, “All terminals are shut down pending the discussion and outcome of the meeting with the federal government. Please, all clearing agents should stay home and listen to news and genuine information if it will still be held or continue tomorrow.”

The Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited Chapter Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved, Thomas Alor also confirmed the situation, stating, “There is no activity here, no operations everywhere; they are not working. I have even left the place now heading home.”

Aviation

The aviation industry opted out of the ongoing nationwide strike, citing a lack of preparations as the decisive factor.

Operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja continued without disruption, with no reported flight cancellations

The General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Association of Nigeria, Francis Akinjole, in an interview with The PUNCH clarified the sector’s stance, stating, “We will join, but we have not actually sat down to decide on that.

“We have a way of doing our own things. We don’t just embark on a strike without adequate preparation.”

Akinjole highlighted a logistical challenge facing the aviation unions, pointing out that one of their member unions is holding a delegate conference in Benin City starting from Wednesday.

He emphasized the need for a coordinated approach, stating, “We cannot be in Benin and enforce a strike in Lagos. So, we have to meet and decide on how to go about it.”

Acknowledging their alignment with the issues at hand, Akinjole recalled a similar scenario five years ago during the NUATE (National Union of Air Transport Employees) National Delegate Conference in Asaba.

He noted that despite a national strike, aviation unions were engaged in activities in Asaba, highlighting the sector’s commitment to strategic and well-organized decision-making.

Akinjole concluded by assuring that all aviation unions would convene to address the current situation, emphasizing the sector’s seriousness in dealing with pertinent issues.

NUATE, one of the key unions, has already taken its place at the ongoing delegate conference, raising questions about the aviation industry’s unique approach during times of nationwide labor actions

Power sector records partial compliance

Power sector workers participated in the nationwide strike. While the power grid remained operational, reports indicated that only essential electricity workers were permitted to work at power stations.

The acting General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Dominic Igwebuike, confirmed that power sector workers withdrew their services at various power stations, except for essential services. However, essential workers would join the strike if it persists.

Igwebuike’s statement was supported by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, which announced the temporary closure of its offices due to the strike, noting that essential services would remain uninterrupted.

Addressing claims of a blackout and grid shutdown, the Transmission Company of Nigeria emphasized that reports suggesting a national blackout were false and misleading. The company clarified that the nation’s power grid was intact and actively supplying electricity to distribution load centers nationwide.

NUBIFIE in some states join, Lagos opts out

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, the Senior Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees, Mr Aboderin Olusola, said so far there has been compliance of banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions in so many states like Bayelsa, Kano, Osun, Edo, Abuja and others.

He said, “We have about 85 per cent compliance, however, the challenge we as a body is that most of these public sector unions especially Lagos, did not comply.”

According to him, for example in Lagos, banks opened their offices earlier in the day and goods were going about their normal business, local government and hospitals opened, most of the public sector unions did not join the strike, and nobody enforced compliance, though our union would move round to ensure that union members in Lagos would comply and just the strike as long as they are members of the unions.

Potential economic loss

The ongoing nationwide strike could result in a daily economic loss of N25.93bn for the Nigerian economy, as per data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The NBS had previously calculated the economic cost of a nationwide strike in 2012, providing insights into the potential financial impact.

In a document titled, ‘Economic Cost of the Nationwide Strike Action of 9th January – 16th January 2012: Initial Assessment,’ the NBS offered an initial estimate for an eight-day strike action.

Using projected figures for GDP in the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarters of the last three years (2009-2011) for each covered economic activity, the NBS stated, “The real cost of any socio-economic disturbance is the tragic but avoidable loss of human life, the value of which cannot be accurately computed.

“In this brief, the NBS relies on the Gross Domestic Product (or GDP) to estimate the monetary value of economic activity “lost” during the period of the strike. In this regard, it is estimated that the nation lost N207, 408.28m million during the eight-day strike.”

Extrapolating from this data, the potential daily economic loss in the current strike stands at N25.93 billion, underscoring the substantial economic implications of the ongoing labor action.