Nigerian Unions strike over minimum wage, shut down power grid, disrupt flights: summary

Stranded passengers gather at the domestic airport, as Nigeria's main labour unions called for an indefinite strike from Monday after failing to agree to a new minimum wage with the government, in Lagos, Nigeria, June 3, 2024.REUTERS/Seun Sanni

Source: REUTERS

What we know

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have embarked on an indefinite strike over the government's failure to agree to a new minimum wage. Unions met with government on Friday in talks for a new minimum wage meant to cushion the impact of reforms collapsed.
The unions shut down the national grid at 2.19 am (0119 GMT) on June 3 and drove away operators at the country's power control rooms, closing at least six substations.
Local airline Ibom Air also suspended flights until further notice due to the strike. Another, United Nigeria also confirmed the disruption of flights across the country as striking workers blocked flight operations.
Unions are also demanding a reversal of an electricity tariff hike effected in May for consumers who use the most power as part of government efforts to wean the economy of subsidies.
This is the fourth strike by the major labour unions since last year. The unions say the strike will last until a new minimum wage is implemented.

What they said

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said that the labour union is still obstructing grid recovery despite efforts to restore power. In a statement, the TCN said, "The situation is such that the labour Union is still obstructing grid recovery nationwide. We will continue to make effort to recover and stabilize the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centres nationwide".

Wonder Hagan