Nationwide Black Out, Fuel Scarcity Looms As NUPENG, NUEE Joins Planned Nationwide Strike

Nigerians may need to brace up for nationwide black out and dearth of fuel a the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the National Union of Electricity Employees ( NUEE) have both instructed their members to join the indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, as directed by organized labor unions.

Meanwhile, as at the time filing this report, the federal government through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, has been appealing to the organized labour to shelve the planned nationwide strike and give the government more time to proffer a lasting solution to the minimum wage and other issues of concerns raised by the unions.

The General Secretary, NUPENG,Comrade Afolabi Olawale confirmed the union's commitment to full compliance with this directive in a statement on Saturday.

Open Television Naija recalls that on May 31, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) had announced the nationwide strike, to take effect from Monday, June 3, following the federal government’s refusal to raise the minimum wage above the N60,000 offered.

Afolabi expressed NUPENG's concern over the federal government’s "insensitive attitude" towards negotiating a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, highlighting the adverse impact of the government's socio-economic policies on working people.

“Our union leaders at all levels—from units to zones and branches—should immediately initiate all necessary processes to ensure full compliance with this directive,” Afolabi stated.

Similarly, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) announced it is mobilizing its members to participate in the strike in compliance with the directive from the NLC and TUC.

Open Television Naija reports that the Acting General Secretary, NUEE, Comrade Dominic Igwebike, issued the directive to members on Saturday.

Igwebike emphasized that the strike is crucial due to unresolved negotiations on the minimum wage, the hike in electricity tariffs, and the categorization of Nigeria’s electricity consumers into bands.

He instructed all national, state, and chapter executives to mobilize members to ensure full compliance and prompt government action.

From all indications, the organized Labour that has earlier apologized in advance to Nigerians for the inconveniences of the nationwide strike action may cause them has invariably prepared the mind of Nigerians for the possible pains and pangs of the industrial action.