ASUU, SSANU, Aviation, Electricity, Banks, Judiciary Workers, Others Join NLC/TUC Nationwide Strike
From Abdul SULE (Abuja)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), National Union of Electricity Employees, National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees and Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria have all joined NLC and TUC nationwide strike.
Other unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers.
The above unions shut their workplaces in compliance with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
The National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has announced on Friday last wekk that they will be commence a nationwide indefinite strike on Sunday midnight, June 2 2024 due to the refusal of the federal government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
In a joint statement delivered by Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, they expressed their serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.
They also demanded that the government reverse the increase in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities in a statement addressed to the branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of ASUU on Monday, the association’s President, Emmanuel Osodeke, directed lecturers in universities across the country to join the strike as an affiliate of the congress.
The statement read in part: “The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, 3rd June 2024, as a result of the failure of Government to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.
On Sunday, Aviation unions directed its members to withdraw services across airports in Nigeria.
The unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers.
The union stated, “In compliance with the directive from the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria—we hereby inform the general public, aviation service providers, airline operators, aviation businesses, and all aviation workers nationwide that starting from 0000hrs of June 3, 2024, all services at all Nigerian airports shall be fully withdrawn till further notice.”
