The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has defended the decision by electricity workers to shut down the national grid on Monday.
In a statement issued on Monday by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, the Congress addressed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) about allegations that the NLC’s monitoring and compliance team attacked personnel manning their facilities.
The statement said that Nigerian workers will not be intimidated by any form of falsehood dished out by TCN or any other agency or organisation of the government.
The nation was thrown into darkness following the shut down of the national power grid by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a development that brewed controversy across the country.
The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress categorically states that Nigerian workers will not be intimidated by the management of any organisation or government entity over our rightful decision to withdraw services through the indefinite nationwide strike that commenced earlier this morning.
“The spreading of outright falsehood to mislead the public instead of working with other stakeholders to resolve the issues raised by Nigerian workers via the NLC and TUC is not helpful in any way.”
The statement further said: “It will rather inflame the anger of the suffering masses who are already burdened by the cruel policies of the federal government.
“It is important that we address the Press statement by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) where they made false claims regarding the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) should understand that the company is not the only one impacted by the massive withdrawal of service across the nation by Nigerian workers. It should therefore not make it a TCN affair, as other organisations also suffer from one breakdown in service or the other as a result of the nationwide industrial action.
“The Management of TCN ought to have realised that the NLC and TUC issued a notice to the federal government since the beginning of May 2024 on the issues of non-completion of the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise and passage into Law and the vexatious hike in electricity tariff. We had demanded the completion of the Wage-setting process and a reversal of the hike in electricity tariff back to N66/kWh without any positive response from the government.
“We had thought that a responsible and proactive Management or organisation would have anticipated the impact of any nationwide strike on its operation and would have joined other stakeholders in urging the federal government to meet the demands of Nigerian workers.
“Unfortunately, the TCN was not responsive enough and could therefore not take adequate steps to assist the government avert the indefinite nationwide strike. Perhaps, TCN is not deeply worried about the plight of Nigerian workers who suffer in penury as a result of their poor pay, thus deciding not to take any positive action. In any case, we are crying because government policies have impoverished us and made living exceedingly difficult.
“One wonders whether TCN’s management needs education on the dynamics of industrial action? It is not true that anybody was manhandled by us in any TCN location. Maybe, TCN in its effort to scuttle the strike tried to force workers to be at work not realising the resolve of all workers to stay away. Why would the grid not go down when the workers who operate them decide to withdraw their service? That is how it works and it further demonstrates that without workers, no wheel can turn; no work can take place anywhere.
“Nigerian workers, led by the NLC and TUC, have exercised due caution and unusual patience in our engagement with our social partners, and this restraint has been grossly abused, unfortunately, which has led us to the present impasse. Trying to buck-pass instead of accepting blame and taking necessary steps to put its house in order will not allow the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to make discernible progress.
“We would like the organisation to take adequate measures to ensure that it discharges its responsibilities to Nigerians, especially in the Electricity sector, instead of dissipating its energy on trying to insult Nigerian workers by its deliberate peddling of falsehood.
“We have been duly informed that the TCN management has resorted to the use of the military in its effort to intimidate and harass workers in its employ who are carrying out their lawful and democratic duties at various TCN plants around Nigeria.”
The NLC said the Management of TCN would be held liable for any injury inflicted on any worker by their resort to the use of the powers of the military.
The statement added” “It is also important that we inform TCN that deploying military men to its locations is a clear abuse and insult to the military, especially in a democracy. We are sure that members of the military so misused by this deployment are not happy with the management and the authorities who have authorised the deployment.
“The NLC and TUC remain steadfast in their commitment to the emancipation of downtrodden Nigerians and will persist in the struggle for a fair and just living wage, as well as the reversal of the excessive electricity tariff hike. We call on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity with us as we demand the implementation of policies that prioritize the wellbeing of the people. We will not back down, and we will not give in to any blackmail, intimidation, or harassment.
“We use this opportunity to appreciate all Nigerians for their solidarity on the first day of this indefinite nationwide engagement and call on them as we move into the second day of this struggle to come out in numbers and join the nationwide industrial action. It is our collective struggle, and together, we can throw off the shackles that have kept us marooned in the cesspit of massive and excruciating suffering.”