Amidst the escalation of the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu have been forcibly halted. This strike, endorsed and actively supported by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), marks a significant moment in the ongoing labor dispute over the government’s refusal to raise the minimum wage beyond N60,000.
Reports from the ground reveal a tense atmosphere at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport as workers, in compliance with the strike mandate, chased away passengers and ceased all operations. Eyewitnesses describe a scene of confusion and frustration as travelers were abruptly forced to leave the premises.
Efforts to negotiate a resolution by the Senate leadership failed on Sunday night, further entrenching the positions of both the government and the labor unions. The government's steadfast refusal to exceed the proposed N60,000 minimum wage has galvanized unions, leading to widespread industrial action.
In a related development, Nigeria experienced a nationwide blackout early Monday morning following the deliberate shutdown of the national grid by labor union members. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the grid shutdown, which occurred at approximately 2:19 a.m., signaling the start of the indefinite strike.
The TCN issued a press release detailing the sequence of events leading to the blackout. At around 1:15 a.m., labor union members stormed the Benin Transmission Operator under TCN's Independent System Operations unit. Workers were forcefully removed from their posts, with reports of physical altercations resulting in injuries. The Benin Area Control Center was subsequently shut down, followed by the closure of other key transmission substations, including Ganmo, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo.
Power generation was also severely affected. The Jebba Generating Station had to shut down one of its units, while others in the same substation ceased operations due to high frequency and system instability, eventually collapsing the entire grid.
TCN's General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated, "We will continue to make efforts to recover and stabilize the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centers nationwide." Despite these efforts, union activities continue to impede grid recovery efforts.
ASUU has fully committed to the strike, urging its members across various universities to participate actively. ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement on Sunday, June 2, directed all branches to ensure total compliance with the strike directive. He emphasized that the strike action is a response to the government's failure to renegotiate the minimum wage and reverse the hike in electricity tariffs.
The Lagos Zone Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, affirmed the union's commitment,3 stating that compliance would not be an issue for universities within his jurisdiction. "The Lagos Zone, comprising seven universities, will fully adhere to the union's directive," Odukoya said.
The impact of the strike is palpable nationwide. With airports shut down and the national grid offline, daily life for millions of Nigerians has been severely disrupted. The government’s insistence on maintaining the current wage proposal has only intensified union resolve.
As the situation unfolds, the labor unions remain unyielding in their demands. Both the NLC and TUC have vowed to continue the strike until their conditions are met, pushing for a minimum wage increase and the rollback of electricity tariff hikes.
This industrial action highlights the deep-seated frustrations within the Nigerian workforce and underscores the critical need for a sustainable resolution. For now, Nigeria remains in a state of limbo, grappling with the repercussions of a nationwide strike that shows no signs of abating.
