The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the nationwide strike following a consensus reached with the Federal Government on a new minimum wage and the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
The announcement was made on Tuesday morning by Festus Osifo, President of the TUC, after a joint extraordinary national executive council meeting of the unions.
The strike, which began on Monday, saw workers across various sectors down their tools to protest the government’s failure to reach an agreement on a new minimum wage and the sudden increase in electricity tariffs. The industrial action led to significant disruptions:
Schools: Many educational institutions were closed, affecting students and staff.
Businesses: Numerous businesses across the country halted operations, leading to economic stagnation.
Hospitals: Health services were severely impacted, with many hospitals operating at minimal capacity or entirely shut down.
Airports: Air travel was disrupted as airports were closed, leaving passengers stranded.
National Grid: The electricity workers’ union shut down the national grid, resulting in a nationwide blackout.
Following intensive negotiations, the labour unions agreed to suspend the strike. Festus Osifo highlighted that the decision was made after careful deliberation and a joint extraordinary national executive council meeting of the unions.
He mentioned that a detailed communiqué would be issued shortly to provide more specifics on the resolutions reached.
