A nationwide blackout is imminent as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has announced its participation in the indefinite strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024.
The strike is in protest of the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and pass into law a new National Minimum Wage Act and reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff to N65/kWh. The NLC and TUC declared the indefinite strike after negotiations with the government reached a deadlock.
In compliance with the directive, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has also directed its members to join the strike, effective Monday. The union’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, expressed concern over the government’s insensitive attitude to the minimum wage negotiations and its socio-economic policies that have impoverished workers.
The NUEE Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, also mobilized members to comply with the strike directive, citing the inconclusive negotiations on minimum wage and electricity tariff hike, as well as the categorization of electricity consumers into bands, as reasons for the industrial action. The union has instructed its executives to ensure total compliance with the directive, with the withdrawal of services taking effect from Sunday, June 2, at 12:00 midnight.
The strike and potential blackout may have significant economic and social implications, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.