In a recent statement by its interim president, Comrade Isa Tijjani, the Nigeria Labor Organization announced the launch of a general strike, jointly led by the Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress. This strike resulted in the shutdown of the national grid, leaving millions of citizens in darkness for more than 24 hours.
This radical action was taken as part of the minimum wage negotiation with the federal government. However, the widespread power outage was sharply condemned by many Nigerians, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who described the act as sedition.
Veterans of the union world also strongly criticized this action by the unions. They underlined the serious economic, security and social consequences of the decommissioning of the national network.
As Tijjani, former NLC president, pointed out, the union is deeply dismayed by the behavior during the recent strike, including disrupting the national network, preventing citizens from carrying out their normal activities, evicting force law-abiding citizens from their offices and use force to compel people to comply with the strike. All of these actions must be investigated and appropriate action taken.
The impact of this strike on the population and on the national economy raises essential questions about the methods and consequences of social movements in the country. It is imperative that stakeholders can find solutions that prioritize dialogue and compromise to avoid serious disruptions that affect the entire population.
It is crucial that unions, government and other stakeholders engage in constructive and respectful discussions to reach agreements satisfactory to all parties involved. Only a collaborative and caring approach will resolve disputes and ensure the well-being of the Nigerian people.