Nationwide strike gains momentum as Bank, Medical Staff Unions, others join forces

The nationwide strike announced a week ago by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has commenced, with affiliate unions actively participating in the industrial action.

In a Tuesday morning Facebook post, the NLC shared circulars from various unions, confirming their adherence to the strike directive. Participating unions include the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), among others.

The strike follows the physical assault on NLC National President Joe Ajaero in Imo State two weeks ago, during a demonstration over issues such as the non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labor rights. The protest was perceived by some as an attempt to hinder the re-election bid of Governor Hope Uzodimma in the recent governorship election.

Despite a National Industrial Court (NIC) order restraining the unions from embarking on the strike due to the impasse with the Imo State Government, the unions, in a Monday statement, directed workers nationwide to withdraw their services from midnight on November 13, 2023.

The joint statement from NLC and TUC urged affiliates and state councils to issue circulars for maximum compliance, despite the court order. The unions expressed concern about the alleged criminalization of peaceful protests by workers in Nigeria.

Notably, the assault on Ajaero prompted the unions to set specific demands, including the resignation of police officials. The unions have vowed to provide updates on the strike’s progress, reassuring members of their commitment to Nigerian workers and people.

Recent strikes by the unions have seen varying levels of participation. Last month, a planned strike over rising living costs was called off after the government offered measures to mitigate the impact of economic reforms.