NLC | Zikoko!

Picture me as a content creator doing a storytime TikTok (sorry, boomers) because that’s the energy I’m coming with. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is dragging the Federal Government (FG) for filth, and I have all the details. Stay with me.

What’s going on?

The real question is, what’s not going on because there’s been a ton of drama in the past couple of days, and it all started with an announcement made on Monday, January 20.

On Monday evening, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) released a statement on its Twitter account saying it is giving telecommunication operators in the country permission to increase the tariff on phone calls, SMS, and data subscriptions by 50%. The implication of this announcement is that phone calls will move from ₦11 per minute to ₦16.50 per minute, SMS from ₦4 to ₦6, and 1GB data bundle from ₦287.50 to ₦431.25.

Protests and lawsuit threats

The ink from NCC’s pen had barely dried on their paper when they were hit by draggings from different corners. The first was from the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), which announced on Tuesday, January 21, that it’d be dragging the NCC by its hair to court for trying to add to the already heavy burdens that Nigerians carry.

The second lawsuit threat came on the same Tuesday, from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The legal advocacy group is no stranger to calling the Nigerian government’s BS, regardless of the administration. Regarding this tariff hike, SERAP says that the government’s decision to increase the tariff violates the rights of Nigerian citizens to affordable communication as contained in international human rights standards.

The next dragging came from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday, January 22. “This decision is not only abnormal but also highly inconsiderate and unjustifiable, especially in the current socio-economic climate,” the student association said in a statement.

NANS said that while it understood that telecommunication companies were facing operational challenges, it does not believe the burden should be passed on to Nigerians, especially students, because they already have way too much on their plate as it is.

Unlike SERAP and NATCOMS, the student association not only dragged the NCC but also bundled the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy along with it, saying it would embark on a nationwide protest if the ministry and the NCC did not reverse the tariff hike in 72 hours.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was not as gracious with their time though. On the same Wednesday, January 22, the NLC released a statement saying the tariff hike was highly unfair to Nigerian workers, giving the government a 48-hour deadline to reverse the hike, but unlike the other groups and associations before it, the NLC did not threaten a protest or lawsuit, it threatened an industrial boycott which it wants Nigerians to get on board with.

But why did the NCC hike the tariff by 50%?

Everyone is (rightly) pissed off at the tariff hike, but the gag is that telecom operators in Nigeria actually asked the government for a whopping 100% increment. This would have seen phone calls climb from ₦11 per minute to ₦22, SMS climb from ₦4 to ₦8, and 1GB data subscription from ₦287.50 to ₦575.

Telcos explained that the telecommunication industry was at risk of crumbling if an increase was not effected; they also threatened to suspend their services in some parts of the country if their demand was not met. After stalling and stalling, the NCC met them halfway and increased the tariff by 50% instead of 100%. We previously wrote an article explaining this in detail.

Why does the NLC want you to boycott telecom companies?

Explaining the position of the union on Arise TV on Friday, January 24, NLC President Joseph Ajaero argued that the government increased the tariff prices for its own gain. “When you increase tariffs by 50 per cent, aside from the taxes the government may collect, it’s seen as a way to boost government revenue. This has been the same approach even in the power sector,” he said.

He pointed out that while he understood the need for telcos to seek an increase in tariff due to operational struggles, he still thinks the government did not act in favour of ordinary Nigerians by making the 50% increment as he believes the NLC as a regulator, has the duty of striking a balance between the corporate interest of telcos and the welfare of Nigerians.

“The government needs to strike a balance. For someone earning N70,000, paying over N10,000 on this tariff increase alone is significant. How will they afford transportation, housing, and other basic needs? It’s not realistic because, in reality, there’s no housing that costs N10,000, and transportation costs are equally high,” the labour President said.

Explaining further, Ajaero said that the government could actually reduce the operational costs weighing down on telcos (as well as other industries) and save Nigerians the stress of extra expenses by producing essential items in the country rather than importing everything.

“For instance, even for metering, we’re importing cables. These are items we could produce domestically, but instead, we rely on imports and then blame rising costs on currency value and importation expenses,” he said, explaining that it made no sense to import these things and then push the extra costs of importation on Nigerians.

“Where did we go wrong that ordinary Nigerians must always bear the brunt? We need to rethink these policies and ensure that people aren’t left struggling to survive while corporations thrive,” he asked.

So what now?

Except for the Nigerian people, I have no dog in this fight. However, the NLC President made a fair argument in pointing out that certain things should be manufactured within the country to save Nigerians unnecessary headaches, sort of like how the entire country has always pushed for the establishment of functioning refineries that’ll supply petroleum products directly to Nigerians rather than going the importation route and incurring extra costs.

What can we do?

Your next point of action will be highly dependent on which side of the divide you stand on. You can do nothing if you believe the 50% tariff hike is fair. If you think it’s unfair, you can do either of the following to make your opinion known:
1. Pressure your lawmakers: If citizens pressure their lawmakers about issues affecting them, they can summon the parties involved to explain what’s happening and possibly change the issue (again, only when pressured). You can find the lawmaker representing your constituency in the national House of Assembly here.
2. Stage a protest: This is usually a no-brainer in situations like this. In this particular case, you can either start your own protest, join the one proposed by NAN or join NLC’s boycott.
3. Use social media: Social media has quickly become a powerful tool for change globally, and it’s no different in Nigeria. One of the most effective ways to start a social media campaign is by consistently talking about an issue and using hashtags to do it. Strong movements such as the #EndSars originated through the use of hashtags.
4. Start a digital campaign: Starting an online petition is also another way to effect change that you want to see. Platforms like this are a great start and are pretty straightforward to use.
The tug-of-war over a new minimum wage between the federal government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress dates back to Buhari’s days. However, the tension appears to have come to a head with the arrest of NLC’s president, Joe Ajaero.

Here’s a brief timeline of events.

You could say the current spat started in October 2023. The NLC threatened to go on a nationwide strike over minimum wage, but the plans were suspended following an agreement with the federal government.

As part of their agreement, the FG agreed to pay its workers an extra ₦35,000 (not the new minimum wage) for the next six months (which was due in April 2024).

Fast-forward to 2024. President Tinubu, during his Democracy speech in June, said that a new bill on minimum wage would soon be introduced in the National Assembly. One month later, nothing materialised, just rounds of meetings between labour leaders, the presidency, and the state governors.

At the 67th Annual Meeting of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) on July 15, Joe Ajaero remarked that the FG’s bad policies are the biggest threat to business survival and livelihood in the country. Ajaero also stated that all elected politicians should be under the wage system, making their remuneration transparent. He even suggested that legislators should work on a part-time basis.

“The money being spent there is unimaginable. We should know your wages,” Ajaero said at the end of his speech.

On July 18, Joe Ajaero announced that the NLC and other labour movements had rejected President Tinubu’s proposal to pay ₦70k as the new minimum wage. According to Ajaero, the Organised Labour declined the offer because the FG would increase the pump price of petroleum products if it paid the new minimum wage.

On August 7, the Nigerian police invaded the Labour office to allegedly search for materials related to the August 1 nationwide protests.

Subsequently, the police headquarters summoned Joe Ajaero to submit himself for questioning about a terrorism financing case. But Joe wasn’t available. Following an agreement with the police, the meeting shifted to August 29, 2024, and Joe Ajaero submitted himself with lawyers like Femi Falana and Deji Adeyanju behind him. He was left to go on the same day.

But it wasn’t over.

In another letter dated August 28, the police headquarters invited Joe Ajaero and the NLC general secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja to their office again. They were expected to submit themselves on September 5 as part of an investigation into “criminal intimidation, conduct likely to breach public peace, and malicious damage to property.” According to an unnamed officer, Joe Ajaero and Emmanuel Ugboaja didn’t honour the police’s invitation. The reason for their no-show wasn’t stated.

But what began as a pressing issue for a new minimum wage and fuel subsidy has now turned into a dogfight. On September 9, 2024, the Department of State Security (DSS) arrested Joe Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja. He was going to London to attend the ongoing Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference.

According to a statement from the NLC, Joe Ajaero is in detention at the National Security Agency’s (NSA) office. The Labour Congress described it as “an assault on Nigerian workers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.”

According to human rights lawyer Femi Falana, the DSS’s arrest of Joe Ajaero isn’t related to the previous police invitations. At the moment, the reason for his arrest is unclear.

This is a developing story.
The National Labour Congress (NLC) must’ve taken the “no gree for anybody” theme of the year seriously with their minimum wage negotiations. They’ve still not settled, following meetings between the minimum wage committee and labour unions in Abuja on May 15 and 21, 2024.

The federal government proposed a wage increase from ₦35,000 to ₦48,000 per month at the first meeting. The organised private sector (OPS) settled for ₦54,000 while labour unions maintained their stance of ₦615,000 to cope with the high cost of living.

In the second meeting on May 21, 2024, the federal government and the OPS maintained ₦54,000 because the government is short of funds. After a 30-minute break, they proposed the sum of ₦57,000. The final proposal from labour was ₦497,000. The meeting was then adjourned till Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

The major concern of the NLC is that the newly proposed amount will do nothing to help workers survive the current economic conditions, considering the electricity tariff hike, housing rates and inflation. The labour unions have given the federal government until May 31, 2024, to conclude negotiations and announce a new national minimum wage, threatening industrial action if their demands aren’t met.

[ad]

The federal government has stated that although the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage is yet to conclude negotiations, the new minimum wage, whatever the final amount may be, will be backtracked to May 1, 2024, regardless of when negotiations end.

READ: About Nigeria’s Plan To Increase The Minimum Wage.
There’s new drama every day in Nigeria. Since we entered 2024, we’ve dealt with fuel scarcity, inflation, a drunk electricity grid, and electricity tariff wahala, but apparently, we’re only in episode 2, season 1.

In April 2024, the electricity tariff costs increased by over 240% for Band A users and fuel price jumped from ₦600 per litre to as high as ₦1000 per litre in May 2024. The National Labour Congress (NLC) relayed messages of displeasure to the Federal government regarding this situation, but not much has changed.

In an unexpected move, The NLC on Monday, May 13 2024, shut the gates of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in Ilorin, Kwara State seeking the reversal of the electricity tariff earlier imposed. The Union members were at the IBEDC offices in Challenge and Baboko market areas in Ilorin as early as 7 a.m. to lock the gates and prevent anyone from going in. The same happened at the Discos in Lokoja, Abuja, Ikeja, Benin, Jos, Kaduna and other locations across the country.

[ad]

The Chairman of NLC in Kwara state, Comrade Muritala Olayinka said that the union was carrying out the instruction of the National Secretariat and that the offices would remain locked until the order to reopen them came from Abuja.

NLC members at a DisCo office

Earlier, the labour unions had given the NERC a May 12 deadline to withdraw the recent hike in electricity tariff or face the consequences, and their actions have shown how much they’re standing on business.

Following their protest on May 13, 2024, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero said that their actions became necessary because Nigerians were wallowing in power poverty, especially after the tariff hike when the government promised extended hours of power supply.

He also went on to say that the government had ignored their letters and complaints, and that people were paying high amounts for electricity but not getting power supply, and that it was an unbecoming situation.

Pending when the federal government responds to their complaints and strike actions, it is unclear when or if the picketing actions against electricity distribution companies will continue.

Read: NEPA Has Favourites And You Might Be One of Them
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) embarked on an industrial action on Monday, November 13, after police officers allegedly battered its president, Joe Ajaero, in Imo state.

The union asked members to withdraw their services nationwide, adding that the strike would go on until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility”.

We’ve compiled a list of 30 service providers whose availability become uncertain whenever the NLC initiates an industrial action.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

When ASUU goes on strike, activities across government-owned universities in the country are halted. And students bear the major brunt.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic

Services across government-owned polytechnics are halted whenever members embark on industrial action.

The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions

Services in research facilities such as the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science and the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science may be inaccessible during an NLC strike.

Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union

Let’s just say classes are halted in most government-owned institutions when members embark on strike.

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP)

Administrative services across government-owned polytechnics may be disrupted when members embark on industrial action.

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)

Administrative services across government-owned universities may also be disrupted when members embark on industrial action.

Iron & Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria

Welders, fitters, tank erectors and machinists, and allied trade workers are all members of the Nigeria Labour Congress. This means the services offered across factories and assembly plants may be disrupted during strikes.

Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN)

Courts are not accessible when members are on strike, so trials may be postponed indefinitely.

Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria

Nigeria’s port stations may close.

Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria

Services in government-owned hospitals and health centres are inaccessible when members embark on strike.

National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives

Workers in this union do not offer their services to hospitals and healthcare centres during an industrial action.

National Union of Air Transport Employees

Airport services halt when workers in the aviation industry embark on industrial action.

National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees

Institutions including commercial banks become inaccessible when members of this union join industrial action.

National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria

Services like power supply are affected when members embark on strike.

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas

This union is home to workers in the petroleum and gas industries across the country. Fueling and gas stations halt services when members are on strike.

National Union of Posts and Telecommunication Employees

NUPTE is home to workers in the government-owned communications industry. The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) will close when members embark on strike.

National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)

Public bus, tricycle and motorcycle services aren’t accessible during industrial action.

[ad]

National Union of Lottery Agents and Employees

This is the trade union for lottery agents across the country. Services like placing bets and receiving payments are halted when members embark on strike.

National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria

Access to tailoring or garment production services may become impossible during a strike.

Nigeria Civil Service Union

Services at some government-owned institution ministries may be disrupted when civil servants are on strike.

Nigeria Union of Civil Service Secretariat Stenographic Workers

Stenographers, who transcribe speeches, in government-owned institutions are unavailable when members are on strike.

Nigeria Union of Journalists

Broadcast and print media services may be disrupted when members strike.

Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees

Civil servants who work in local government-owned institutions are also effected.

Nigeria Union of Mine Workers

Mines across the country may close when workers are on strike.

Nigeria Union of Railwaymen

This union is home to workers in the rail transportation sector across the country. Train rides are not accessible during industrial action.

Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)

NUT is home to the academic staff in government-owned primary and secondary schools in the country. These schools close when workers are on strike.

Nigeria Welders and Fitters Association (NIWELFA)

This is the association for professional welders and fitters in the country. Services such as welding, laying and assembling of units are disrupted when members strike.

Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN)

PASAN is a trade union that’s home to staff of the parliamentary/legislative arm of government and other related institutions in Nigeria.

Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU)

Broadcast and entertainment may be disrupted when members strike.

Steel & Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN)

Services across production factories and assembly plants involved in making metal and electrical goods in Nigeria may be halted during strikes.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked members to join the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

Here’s all we know about the situation that has raised anxiety among students.

What happened?

On Monday, November 13, the leadership of the NLC and TUC directed members to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight.

Festus Osifo, TUC president, informed journalists of the planned industrial action in Abuja on the same day. According to him, the strike will continue until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”

The strike is also connected to the November 1 alleged battering of NLC president, Joe Ajaero, during a labour protest in Imo state. Benson Upah, NLC’s Head of Information, told the press that Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest to highlight the plights of workers in Imo.

At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, November 10, Ajaero recounted his ordeal at the hands of police officers.

“I can’t explain the beating I received. They tied my hands and dragged me on the floor like a common criminal. I am not even a card-carrying member of any political party as alleged.”

However, Imo Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Okoye Henry told a different account of the story. According to Henry, the NLC president was taken into protective custody following a mob attack that stemmed from protesters trying to shut down areas of essential services.

“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed,” he said.

During the November 3 press briefing in Abuja, the NLC rolled out a six-point demand to the federal government including the investigation and redeployment of Imo commissioner of police, Mohammed Barde, and removal of officers believed to be involved in the attack against Ajaero.

The NLC also demanded a thorough examination of Ajaero to ascertain the level of physical and psychological injuries inflicted on him.

Why is ASUU involved?

On Monday evening, November 13, President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, directed its members to join the NLC and TUC’s industrial action.

In a letter sent to all the union zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons of the union, Osodeke wrote:

“The Nigeria Labour Congress at a Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC and TUC directed all affiliate Unions to commence withdrawal of services with effect from 12:00 midnight today 13th November 2023.

“As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union. Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action.”

[ad]

How are Nigerians reacting?

News of ASUU joining the NLC and TUC’s strike has since stirred reactions from concerned Nigerians and students.

The academic bodies going on strike is like stabbing your own self. It changes nothing but more pain to the poor. Their own children are not even in the continent to start with but here we are. Anything Strike count ASUU in.
— Mibanti (@RealMibanti) November 14, 2023

https://twitter.com/sidi_omar15/status/1724316956805788099?s=46&t=gV-1mmgH3NC_RQhcgp1x3w

My opinion may not count but I strongly dislike ASUU's incessant and almost futile strikes. 🤦

As for NLC, isn't it another short break from work with an intangible outcome for the nation and her people?
— Gregory Okeke (@gregzom) November 14, 2023

Eeeeya ASUU strike again.

My advice is to learn handwork and marry. 😊
— Morris Monye (@Morris_Monye) November 14, 2023

So the only thing ASUU could use to repay President Tinubu for paying their withheld salary of about 8 months just few weeks ago is to join Ajaero’s useless strike.

PMB knew.
— Wale Adedayo 🌍🔰 (@Mario9jaa) November 14, 2023

How long was the last ASUU strike?

ASUU’s last strike lasted eight months. The union embarked on the strike on February 14, 2022, to press home its demands from the FG. The union’s demands included the release of revitalisation funds for universities, the release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

It called off the strike on October 17, 2022, following an order from the industrial court.
Since 1981, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has fought for their rights through nationwide strikes. And this streak of strikes seems far from over, as Nigerians may witness another strike from the group.

Not again

What’s the NLC’s latest beef this time?

NLC is angry about the current cash scarcity caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) naira redesign policy and fuel scarcity across Nigeria.

NLC president, Joe Ajaero, sent an ultimatum to the CBN — either improve the supply of naira notes in the country and reduce fuel scarcity or expect NLC workers to go on indefinite strike. This is because the workers have been finding it difficult to source cash for transportation and everyday needs since the crisis began.

RECOMMENDED: What Has the Naira Scarcity Cost Nigerians?

But now the next question is, why should you care if the NLC goes on strike? We have a few reasons here:

All essential workers are under NLC

This includes transport workers, doctors, teachers, bankers, etc. If they go on strike, none of these essential workers would be there to cater to the average Nigerian’s needs.

Road transport workers [Pulse]

It will negatively impact Nigeria’s economy

During strikes, there’s what is called a strike cost. This is the cost incurred by the government from paying wages and salaries to labour workers. This is negative because money is being spent without gaining any revenue.

To show how bad strike costs are, the federal and state governments lost N1.3 trillion to strike costs during the 2020 ASUU strike.

It could lead to the loss of lives

Doctors and medical personnel in federal hospitals fall under the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), an affiliate of the NLC.

If the Labour Congress should go on strike, this could increase deaths for citizens who can’t afford private healthcare.

What happens next?

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has met with CBN governor Godwin Emefiele and Ajaero for negotiations.

The CBN promised to increase the distribution of the naira notes, while Ajaero promised that the NLC would continue to “engage the CBN through effective dialogue.”

But could the negotiations break down? Will CBN keep to their word? Let’s wait and see.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is hot right now due to a solidarity protest with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The union is more well-known for protests and strikes, but there’s more to it than that.

First, a brief history of the NLC

The NLC was first created in December 1978 as a vehicle to protect the rights of workers and pensioners.

The union was a merger of four separate trade unions: the Nigeria Trade Union Congress (NTUC), Labour Unity Front (LUF), United Labour Congress (ULC) and Nigeria Workers’ Council (NWC).

The idea for the merger was to create one giant representative organisation with strong trade influence rather than four with limited, scattered power. It’s like the Avengers of unions.

“Unions… assemble!”

The military governments of General Ibrahim Babangida and General Sani Abacha dissolved the NLC in 1988 and 1994, respectively, for having coconut head, but the union always came back from the dead.

Today, the NLC has more than 40 affiliated unions with over four million members nationwide.

Okay, but what does the NLC do?

Here are the key issues that validate the existence of the NLC:

Job protection

It goes without saying that the protection of jobs for Nigerian workers is a main pillar of the NLC’s existence. The union is committed to this cause to the point of backing workers sacked for incompetence.

Safety at work

If you leave it up to Nigerian employers, they’d cut every possible corner to protect the business and tell employees to go to hell. The NLC is there to fill the gap of advocacy for the people that make a business tick. It’s the union’s mandate to ensure that employees work in a safe and efficient environment.

Industrial relations

If the NLC were a quote, it’d be “If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together”.

“…and as fashionably as possible”

The more people in the union that can do collective bargaining, the better for everyone’s interests. This is why the union promotes positive industrial relations in Nigeria.

Education

The NLC also seeks to always promote the education of workers to develop their social consciousness.

Legislative representation

One of the NLC’s most potent weapons is influencing government policies at all levels to serve the interests of Nigerian workers.

Gender equality

It’s also the mandate of the NLC to fight for affirmative action to improve the participation of women in the labour force, even if its own national administrative council membership doesn’t always reflect that gender balance.

Charity begins at home

If you ever see the NLC striking, protesting or making noise in the news like it’s currently doing, it’s usually for any combination of these reasons.

ALSO READ: Why the Nigeria Labour Congress Is Protesting
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are taking part in a nationwide protest starting July 26th, 2022. The NLC is Nigeria’s national umbrella body for trade unions with over four million members. This means it’s a big deal when the union takes an action like this as it could significantly disrupt socio-economic activities across the nation.

The goal of the protest is to do the impossible — to make the Buhari government listen.

What’s this protest about?

The NLC first announced the strike action after its National Executive Council (NEC) met on June 30th, 2022. The group then communicated its decision to state chapters in a July 15th circular. The national executives urged the chapters to mobilise members to participate in the protest.

What was the reason for the decision? The NLC was unhappy at the failure of the government to make a deal with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to put an end to a strike that has kept Nigerian students at home for five months.

ALSO READ: Why ASUU Is Back to Beating the Drums of War, Again

So this is about the ASUU strike?

Well, yes.

An ASUU strike is old men talking for months and young Nigerians sitting at home.

In February 2022, university lecturers reignited their unending war with the Federal Government by going on strike. The strike started only as a warning, just like how the suya seller gives you a taste before you decide if you want to buy more. The Federal Government decided to buy more of ASUU’s suya.

The two have been playing a game of Tom and Jerry since then while students have watched from the sidelines unamused.

Here’s an unintentionally hilarious video from when the strike first started:

WATCH: Lagos ASUU members sing solidarity songs as strike looms pic.twitter.com/eF4pDsJSZ6
— TheCable (@thecableng) February 8, 2022

The issues that caused the February 2022 strike aren’t any different from the ones that caused the 2020 strike which lasted nine months — revolving mainly around salary structure and payment, earned academic allowances, university funding, autonomy and academic freedom.

How does the NLC strike affect anything?

The NLC strike will take place in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The goal of the action is to force the Federal Government to conclude the ongoing negotiations with ASUU and other aggrieved trade unions in universities. The takeoff points for the protest are the Labour House in the FCT and state secretariats of the NLC.

Member unions that have expressed full backing for the strike include the Senior Staff Union of Nigeria (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU).

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is also participating in the strike, so you might experience some electricity issues that won’t get immediate attention.

The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) is also participating in the protest, so there may be some disruption in the aviation industry.

Buhari doesn’t like this, does he?

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described the protest as illegal and asked the NLC to stop it. But the union said:

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, also claimed the Department of State Services (DSS) doesn’t want the protest to hold because they fear hoodlums may hijack it. And that’s really just something the Nigerian government says about every protest these days to try and shut it down.

How long will the protest last?

NLC’s action is only a warning strike to take place for two days: July 26th and July 27th. The group will decide on what further action to take depending on how the government responds.

ALSO READ: What Do Nigerian Students Really Do During ASUU Strikes?
If you were looking forward to the nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as a great excuse to lazy around for an indefinite time then you are going to be so disappointed.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has decided to call off their intended nationwide strike while they engage in talks with the Federal Government over the new minimum wage. Meanwhile, Lagos civil servants have been promised more than N30,000 minimum wage.

These decisions happened yesterday, when Labour was supposed to be prepping their we-no-go-gree-o stance; but are we surprised that the strike was called off? No, we expected it.

The President of the United Labour Congress (ULC), Joe Ajaero, seemed to have foreseen this as well, which probably led to his statement about how the so called strike was dead on arrival because the “critical sectors that would make the strike to be successful were left out of the decision”.

I couldn’t agree more, considering that many a strike, prior to this, have been called off in order to engage in talks, yet nothing worthwhile is achieved. Oh well, this one remains to be seen.

Although, isn’t the NLC’s bark fast becoming louder than its bites?