Nineteen unions have instructed their members to adhere to the directive of the two labor unions, leading to an indefinite nationwide strike.
The decision was reached during the National Executive Council meeting of the labor unions held on November 13, 2023, in Abuja. The strike is a response to the alleged failure of the Federal Government to address workers’ concerns, including issues related to the minimum wage, insecurity, corruption, and governance.
Among the unions that have complied with the directive are:
1. Academic Staff Union of Universities.
2. Senior Staff Associations of Nigerian Universities.
3. College of Education Academic Staff Union.
4. Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.
5. National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees.
6. Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics.
7. Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.
8. National Association of Academic Technologists.
9. National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees.
10. Nigeria Union Of Local Government Employees.
11. Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.
12. Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers.
13. National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria.
14. National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives.
15. National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees.
16. Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria.
17. National Union of Electricity Employees.
18. Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria.
19. Nigeria Union of Railway Workers.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has also directed its zonal coordinators and chairpersons to instruct their members to join the nationwide strike in alignment with the directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
The directive was issued in a letter signed by ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday night.
The letter read, “The Nigeria Labour Congress at a Joint National Executive Council of NLC and TUC directed all affiliate unions to commence the withdrawal of services with effect from 12 midnight today November 13, 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.”
Also, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees directed its staff to join the strike, saying, “We hereby direct all our members in all Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions to stay off duty as from 14th November 2023 until otherwise directed by the Congress.”
Our Correspondents who went round to observe the compliance of workers to the strike, observed that some schools were shut down in Ondo state, while some banks, and hospitals suspended their operations in other states.In the same development, the Federal Capital Territory High Court officials complied with the strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.
